Richard E. Bauries
Richard E. Bauries of Swanzey Center, NH. died at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon on Monday, June, 20, 2011 with his loving wife Pat and family at his side. He was born August 5, 1936 in Queens, N.Y. to Mildred (Zorie) and Edward Bauries. Mr. Bauries graduated from Levittown Memorial High School in 1954 in the first graduating class of the new high school.
Mr. Bauries married his wife Patricia (Pat) Breen in 1956 on Long Island, N.Y. They moved to Troy NH. soon after.
To all his children, grand children and extended family and friends he was affectionately known as “Poppy”.
As a born salesman he started his career at SEARS in Keene, NH. He would then go on to be the first salesman for the newly established WKBK radio station. His next venture was to be the salesman for the new concept of a weekly Shopper News and the Bellows Falls Shopper in 1961. These positions took him to the far reaches of the Vermont and New Hampshire country side. He so loved the area that he obtained his Real Estate license and became the owner of Century 21, Key Realty in Ludlow, VT. from 1974 to 1991, as well as the owner of Century 21 Real Estate in Springfield, VT.
He then owned and operated Empire Investors for 15 years, raising capitol for growth and expansion for corporations.
As a young man, Dick was very sports minded and loved the game of softball. During the late 1950s he played softball in Keene with the original Blue Jays at Wheelock Park. This interest carried with him into his business career in Vermont and for many years he gave generously of his time and support to the Springfield Softball League. In 1985 he was instrumental in the completion of the “Bill Robinson Field” in Springfield, VT. to be used for both the school aa well as the town. Mr. Bauries was also named the Vermont Softball Commissioner during those years. In addition to sports he was known for his artistic and musical interests.
In the 1964 era he formed a band called “the Dead Beats” and the group was a popular entertainment for Saturday night up and down the Connecticut Valley.
Mr. Bauries first and foremost passion was cooking, which came from his beloved mother. This gave him the interest in opening up several restaurants, in Ludlow, VT. The Clyde Barnstable Restaurant, and then a rock and roll establishment named The Chopping Block, which was the place to be on Friday and Saturday night. He then opened a Northern Italian restaurant named The Polo Club in Springfield VT., in 1989. This establishment was featured in the 1990 Restaurants of New England annual book stating that “The Polo Club would be quite at home in New York”, with the interior being what you would find in the upscale establishments of NYC. Mr. Bauries also taught culinary classes at The Vermont Culinary Institute in Montpelier Vermont, and his unofficial ministry in life was to insure that neighbors and friends around him would have an occasional home cooked meal. He was a one man “Meals on Wheels” for anyone he knew in need of some soul food for the heart and his chicken soup was the most notable in the community.
During Mr. Bauries later life he became interested in local politics. He was on the Monadnock Regional School District Budget committee in 2006 and 2007, and was then again elected in 2011. He was also the president of the Monadnock Regional Schools Taxpayers Association. Their goal was to insure that the funds were utilized for the benefit of the children and that they received the best education the community taxpayer could afford. He testified at the State of New Hampshire Legislative body many times on the taxpayers behalf.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia (Breen) Bauries of Swanzey Center and children, Maryanne Keating, Robin Cole & husband Tony, Thomas Bauries, and his grandchildren, Joseph (Ted) Keating and his fianc Jennifer Roberts, Grace Keating, their father Timothy Keating, and grandchildren Tyson Cole, and Margaret (Maggie) Cole. and his great granddaughter, Kiera Keating, and her sister Avery. He is also survived by his sister Patricia Brace of Delaware, his brothers, Robert Bauries and his wife Patricia of Ormond Beach, Fl., Douglas Bauries of Levittown, N.Y., Dennis Bauries of Marco Island, Fl. He is also survived by his sisters in-law; Elsie K. Breen of Troy and Jean Breen of Swanzey and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Bauries is preceded in death by his mother in 2007, and his two brothers in-law, Edward “Mike” Breen in 2010, and Peter Breen on June 13, 2011. In their memory, contributions may be made to Home Healthcare Hospice & Community Services, 312 Marlboro St. Keene, NH 03431 or to Gerts Kitchen, P.O. Box 5, West Swanzey, NH 03469-0005.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 24, from 6 to 8pm. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, June 25, at 10am. with burial to follow in the family lot at Mountain View Cemetery, Old Homestead Highway, Rt. 32 South. Swanzey. All services are under the direction of Cheshire Family Funeral Home, 46 South Winchester St. West Swanzey, 03446. www.cheshirefamilyfuneralhome.com.
