Richard Dick Lewis

Richard Dick Lewis, 71, of Venice, FL, formerly of Riverside, RI passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2010. Born in Providence, RI to the late Ralph and M. Loretta Lewis, he graduated from East Providence High School and attended classes at the University of Rhode Island the Rhode Island School of Design. He is survived by his loving wife, Karen, brother, Harry Lewis of Venice, FL, the late Jonathan Lewis of Nokomis, FL and 7 nieces and nephews. Mr. Lewis worked for the RI Department of Public Works as a Project Engineer for 30 years. His greatest accomplishments included designing a logo to put on RI bridges that is still in use today and he had the opportunity to oversee the construction of the East Bay RI Bike Path that provides 15 miles of scenic bicycling that thousands of people get to enjoy regularly. He was an avid golfer who won the Swansea Country Club Championship in 1989 and was a member of Myakka Pines Golf Club and a former member of the Lake Venice Golf Club. Mr. Lewis was a private plane pilot with an instrumentation rating and also held a commercial pilot’s license. His hobbies also included parachuting and flying jumpers. He belonged to the Northeastern Sport Parachute Council for many years. He enjoyed motorcycling and continued to ride until recently. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. at Farley’s Funeral Home at 265 South Nokomis Ave., Venice, FL. Memorial donations may be made to Venice High School Golf Team Foundation, c/o Venice High School, 1 Indian Ave., Venice, FL 34285.