Richard R. Laperle

Richard Raymond Laperle passed into the loving arms of his Savior on September 27, 2026, at the age of 66. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on August 7, 1960, he was the son of Armand and Marie (Goyette) Laperle. During his three-year battle with a very rare cancer, Richard was surrounded by his wife, children, family, and friends. They remained by his side through his final days and were with him as he slipped into heaven.

Richard is survived by Terri, his wife of 36 years; his children, Nathan, Sarah and her wife, Sam, and Maria and her husband, Joshua; and his granddaughter, Nina Jeanne. He is also survived by his sisters, Terry Laperle and her wife, Marilee, and Constance and her husband, Bob; his late brother Joseph’s wife, Suzanne; Phil Laperle; Jackie Quinlan; his aunt, Claire Halvey; and his uncle, Paul Laperle, and his wife, Kathy. Richard also had the honor of loving his many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Richard was a gentleman of unwavering faith, guided throughout his life by strong character. His laughter and outgoing personality made him the life of every gathering. He found his true love in Theresa (Holman), his “country girl,” and they married on October 28, 1989. Together, they built a home in Greenville and later a new home in New Ipswich. His beloved children—Nathan R. Laperle, Sarah J. Laperle, and Maria C. (Laperle) Wright—are his legacy. Rich was blessed to welcome spouses into the family and, this past year, his first grandchild, Nina Jeanne Wright. Although his time as Papa was brief, his dream was realized, and he was blessed to experience that joy.

Richard enjoyed a long career as a highly skilled information technology professional at Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq Computers, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Monster Worldwide, EMC, Parexel International, and, most recently, BAE Systems. A self-taught IT expert, he spent 45 years in the field, worked with more than 40 operating systems, and contributed to the design and implementation of large-scale data centers and complex high-performance computing systems for major companies. Rich also supported many causes and community organizations, including St. Vincent de Paul, Souhegan Valley Ambulance, and the Greenville Fire Department. He was an avid supporter of the Red Cross.

In accordance with Richard’s wishes, there will be no calling hours. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 8th at 11:00am in the Hampshire Hills Event Center, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the New Hampshire Food Bank or Dana-Farber in Boston, MA. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com