Rick Ranfos Sr., 61: Husband, father, grandfather, longtime MPD employee

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Rick Ranfos Sr.
Rick Ranfos Sr.

MANCHESTER, NH — Richard A Ranfos Sr., 61, of Manchester, died peacefully at Elliot Hospital on March 5, 2015 after a long battle with cancer.

Rick was born on August 11, 1953, son of Beatrice (Constant) and Arthur J Ranfos. He worked for the Manchester Police Department for 31 years before having to retire in 2011. Rick was then rehired in 2011 to the City of Manchester New Fleet Maintenance complex until his death.

As a child Rick played the accordion. He belonged to Post #54, Sons of the Legion and was a member of the Teamsters Union for 31 years. He played basketball for St. Pius Church and attended Weston Elementary School and Manchester Memorial High School.

He started the Manchester Police Softball Team League as well as the Manchester Police Hockey team. He coached baseball at East Little League when his son played baseball there for many years. He then went on to coach his grandson Zachary, at South Little League, for many years.

Three years ago he went back to coaching and started coaching his grandson, Cameron, at East Little League. He loved hockey, especially the Boston Bruins, and was a huge fan since the 1970s. He even had the opportunity to play against some of the veteran Bruins with his Manchester Police hockey team. He was also a season ticket holder with the Manchester Monarchs since the day the Monarchs came to Manchester.

One of the last pictures of Rick, taken at Hampton Beach in August 2014.
One of the last pictures of Rick, taken at Hampton Beach in August 2014.

He will be missed, and remembered as the best husband, father, grandfather and best friend to all who knew him. Rick was just the type of person that everyone loved and it was a true honor to know him.

He leaves behind his wife of 42 years, Sandra J. Ranfos. He and Sandra were soul mates, who met when they were 10 years old; his loving daughter, Sue Jane Knowles and her husband David; a son,  Richard A Ranfos Jr. who learned by example how to be a great man like his dad, and his wife, Heather. He also leaves behind his two grandsons, Zachary Knowles and Cameron Knowles, who were the “sunshine of his life” and the reason he fought the cancer so hard for the last seven months.

He also leaves behind many brother- and sisters-in-law (that were like brothers and sisters to him since he was an only child), aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on March 13 at 10 a.m. in St. Pius Church. Committal services will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made in his memory to the Manchester Police Patrolman’s Association, 404 Valley St., Manchester, NH 03104.

Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. To view an online memorial or more information, go to www.phaneuf.net. You can sign an online guestbook here.

The family would like to thank the entire nursing staff of the Fuller Unit at the Elliot Hospital as well as the nursing staff of White-7 at Massachusetts General Hospital for their continued compassion and support of Rick and our entire family while he was in their care.

 

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!