Obituary of Richard Harvey Gatto

" Richard H. Gatto, 61, of Burlingame Rd died Thursday at home. Born in Worcester, on June 13, 1940, he was the son of Doris (Eldridge) Gatto of Worcester and the late Thomas P. Gatto. Richard worked at Hamilton Standard Division of United Technology from 1986-1994. He most recently worked as the head custodian of the East Longmeadow high school. Richard was a very active member of the Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 of NAFCA. He also served on its board of directors for 10 years. Richard was an avid outdoors man and a chairman of the camp show in 1994 and 2001. Besides his mother, he leaves his wife of 29 years, Karen (Fitzpatrick), two sons, John M. of Claremont, NH and Richard N. of Spencer, MA as well as one daughter, Heather K. Lapierre of Chicopee. He is also survived by a sister, Mary Carter of Palmer, two brothers, Thomas of Ponito, Indiana and Paul of E. Brookfield as well as four grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Monday at 9:15 a.m. from the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home followed by a liturgy of Christian burial at 10:00 in St. Thomas Church. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours are Sunday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Donations may be made to VNA of Western New England, 50 Maple St., Springfield, MA 01102 or to the Cam Neeley Foundation, 750 Washington St., NEMC 294, Boston, MA 02111. "