Richard Hanley (“Terry”) passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 28, at home, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Robert M. Santy, who survives him.
Terry was born on July 12, 1938, in Hartford, Conn., and was the son of James Hanley and Alice (Swift) Hanley. When he was 2, he moved to Vineyard Haven on Martha’s Vineyard with his family. He was educated in Martha’s Vineyard schools, and graduated from Tisbury High School in 1957.
Growing up on the Vineyard, he loved the beach and landscaping. As a teenager, he worked for the wealthy patrons on the Island, looking after their gardens and lawns. He moved to Boston after graduation, and worked at Jordan Marsh in the restaurant, making their famous blueberry muffins. The opportunity arose that led to his career as the food service director for Tufts University in Medford, where he worked for more than 30 years. He then moved on to food-service management for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and then to the Landmark School in Beverly, where he retired. After his retirement, he traveled to Austria and Italy. He then worked a couple of days a week at Kennedy’s Market in Marlboro, where the customers loved his wit and personality at the register.
Terry and Bob have been together since 1976, and decided to marry in 2015. They both loved and enjoyed the impressive gardens Terry created at their homes in Medford and Marlboro. Terry and Bob enjoyed their frequent trips to Martha’s Vineyard to meet up with friends. They also loved going out for lunch and dinner. Terry enjoyed his daily martinis.
Besides his husband, Bob, he is survived by his daughter, Deborah A. Keegan, and her husband Lawrence J. (“Bud”) Keegan of Billerica; his two sons, William T. Hanley, and his husband Larry Woodward of Sacramento, Calif., and Ray R. Hanley of Dedham; four grandchildren, Kelly (Keegan) Mannarino, and her husband Matthew of Burlington, Erin J. Keegan-Cox, and her husband Philip of Billerica, L. Joseph Keegan III of Dracut, and Marissa Hanley, and her fiancé Justin Fuglestad of Granby; five great-grandchildren, Shane A. and Finola C. Cox of Billerica, and Eliana J., Macklin J., and Adelina J. Mannarino of Burlington; his sister, Joyce Martin of Vero Beach, Fla.; two nieces, Linda Davey of Vero Beach, and Beth Davey of Massachusetts; and extended family and many friends. He was the brother-in-law of the late Martin Davey.
The family wants to thank Donna at Constellation Hospice for her kindness and care during this difficult time.
Relatives and friends attended his visitation on Monday, July 7, at the O’Donnell Funeral Home in Lowell. His burial took place on Wednesday, July 9, in Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. Contributions in his memory may be made to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm, online at mspca.org, or to Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.