Richard Ellsworth Jordan

Richard "Dick" Ellsworth Jordan, 82, a 50 year resident of Westford, passed away Thursday March 29th at Sunrise Assisted Living in Burlington, MA surrounded by family. Dick was born in Boston, MA to the late George and Irene Jordan. He was raised and educated in Catholic schools in Jamaica Plain, MA and received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. Prior to college, he served with the United States Navy seeing the world on a ship. Dick spent his professional career as a radar expert on the AWACS system with the MITRE Corporation. Upon formal retirement he worked independently as a certified professional engineer and surveyor. Dick served for many years on school building committees and was the Chairman of the Westford Academy Building Committee from concept through completion. He was a volunteer with Nabnassett Boosters and Boy Scouts. Dick spent summers in Barnstable Harbor where he could be found clam digging, messing about in boats, and enjoying a "nice brisk sit" with a beer and a cigarette. He was a lifelong communicant and member of the H.E. Fletcher Social and Athletic Club. In earlier years, he enjoyed golf, skiing and winter in Florida. Dick was a man of many talents who could fix engines and appliances, sketch, carve, paint, and design additions. For Westford's 200th anniversary he built a working water wheel float to honor the town's early mills. Dick was married for 51 years to the late Dorothea Y. Jordan, who he lovingly cared for over a long decline. He leaves his six children, Rick of Medford, Chris and his wife Sandra of Westford, Cindy and her husband Arthur of Lincoln, Jocelyn Kennedy and her husband Peter of Medford, Glenn and his wife Peggy of Woodbridge, VA., and Paul of Chelmsford. He leaves six grandchildren Ted, Tim, Grace, Melanie, Asa and Ben. He is the brother of Shirley Buckley of Plymouth, George Jordan of Medway, and the late Robert Jordan (deceased) of Norwood. He leaves numerous relatives, nieces, nephews and friends.Friends are invited to call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3rd at the J. A. Healy Sons Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, April 4th at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine of Alexandria Roman Catholic, 107 North Main Street, Westford, MA.Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).