Richard Paul McCusker Jr.

Richard P. (Dickie) McCusker, Jr.

Dickie McCusker passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family in his Delray Beach home on May 2, 2022 after fighting a courageous four-year battle with cancer.

Dickie was born on November 25, 1954 alongside his twin sister, Diane in Braintree, Massachusetts. Dickie’s Mom and Dad, Richard McCusker and Rosemary Sheehan raised their seven children, Dickie, Diane, Tim, Mark, Kathryn, Michael and Megan (who are also twins) in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  They spent their summers making memories at Oyster Harbors Beach on the Cape.

Dickie is an early pioneer of Boca Raton, moving here with his family in 1965 where they resided in Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.  He attended elementary school at Hillsboro Day School, and then attended Alexander D.  Henderson School at FAU.  He was a graduate of Boca Raton High School, Class of 1973.

During his younger school years Dickie played in a ‘garage rock band’.  He carried this talent with him throughout his life as he became an accomplished drummer, singer, and guitar player.

After high school, Dickie packed up his VW Camper Van with two of his friends, Paul Nolan, and Jeff Cutts, and set out on an adventure to explore life on the road.  Dickie was leading the quintessential ‘hippie' lifestyle that was characteristic of the 70’s generation.  Among the many places they traveled, their final destination led them back to Cape Cod where he worked at his cousin, Jep’s restaurant.

Dickie’s journey ultimately led him to Boulder, Colorado, where he attended the University of Colorado.  He then went on to study law at the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law where he received his Juris Doctor degree.  He passed the Florida Bar in 1983 and practiced in the Federal Courts in the Southern District of Florida.  He was also licensed to practice law in Massachusetts. Dickie met his law partner, Ken Hemmerle, while working in a law office in Boca Raton in 1985.  Ken and Dickie ultimately established a law firm in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Over the next 30 years the two collaborated together with clients and cases.  He later established a home office in Delray Beach.  Dickie was a champion for the “little guy.”  He practiced law with integrity, a big heart, and a good soul!

The things that Dickie loved the most in his life were his two women, his wife Lisa and daughter Erin.  Dickie first met Lisa Withall in high school.  Little did he know that she would be the love of his life when they reconnected at a party in Old Floresta, Boca Raton in 1990.  After dating for two and a half years, they were married.  Three years later they welcomed their beautiful daughter, Erin into the world. 

Dickie was a devoted father as Erin was the ‘apple of his eye’!  They enjoyed spending time together.  He was also a wonderful son-in-law, who dropped what he was doing on a dime to join Ted for a game of golf or just stop in for a visit with Ted and Helen.

Dickie had a love for life, nature, and his music.  He was an avid reader, loved to cook, and was a huge ‘foodie’.  He spent his free time running on the beach and many of those years with his dog, Tybee.  He was a dedicated yogi, with his favorite being Bikram (hot yoga). He rarely missed a day to practice yoga. 

His musical talents of drumming, singing and guitar playing were truly his lifelong passions as he continued to perform with his friends and band members Greg Welch, JP Goss, Jimmy Pearl, Kenny Ropp, John Gillespie, Michael Biro, and Paul Norris up until the pandemic.

Dickie did not miss a beat in living life to its fullest. His energy and fun-loving spirit will be missed by his family and friends.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 4 to 8 pm at Chapel 4, 200 S.E. 7th Avenue, Delray Beach, FL  33483.

Limited Parking with Public Parking located on north bound  east side of Federal Hwy. (6th Ave) just south of Atlantic Avenue, or go to http://www.delraybeachfl.gov/government/city-departments/public-works/parking/find-parking   or http://Ridefreebee.com to download app for free ride service.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Dickie’s favorite charities: 

World Central Kitchen.  http://donate.wck.org.  WCK, led by World Renowned Chef, Jose Andres is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Make A Wish Foundation.  http://wish.org. Creating life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Richard P. (Dickie) McCusker, Jr. is survived by his wife and daughter, Lisa and Erin McCusker;

And siblings:  Diane McCusker Dopheide, husband Jeff and daughter Caitlin; Megan McCusker Shalvoy, husband Mike, daughter Meredith and son Sean; Kathryn McCusker Johnston, husband David and daughter Hannah; Tim McCusker wife Carol Marinelli McCusker; Michael McCusker; and Mark McCusker.  Cousin:  Thomas Jeptha Smith. Sister-in-law:  Robin Withall Cox, and nephew J.J. McDonough, wife Elizabeth Ziegenfuss and sons Kane and Van.

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