Obituary: Richard C. Landers

Courtesy of .

Richard Landers, 69, died Tuesday April 10, 2012 after a lengthy and courageous battle with Alzheimer ’s Disease. He was the husband of 49 years to his devoted wife Beverly F. (Chabot) Landers.

Born on August 16, 1942 in Danvers, he was the son of Ralph W. and Barbara (Burk) Landers. A lifelong resident of Danvers, he was a graduate of , Class of 1960, Brewster Academy and Western New England College.

He began his career with the as a Reserve Officer in 1965, and served the Department with distinction for the next 38 years. He is fondly remembered for his years as “Square Officer” walking the downtown beat and as the town’s first Crime Prevention Officer. Upon being promoted to Sergeant, he served as the Department’s first Accreditation Manager and helped the Danvers Police to be the first Nationally Accredited Department in the Commonwealth. In 1999, he was promoted to Chief and held that position until his retirement in 2003.

He was a stand-out “single wing” center for the Holten High football team and played for the Plains in the old Danvers Twi-Light Baseball League. He spent many years coaching youth football, softball and little league baseball in the town. In 2003, he was inducted into the Danvers High School Blue and White Athletic Hall of Fame. A huge sports fan, he loved the local sports teams and was a regular spectator at his grandchildren’s games.

He will be missed by his three sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law and a son-in law: Michael and Anne Landers of Danvers, Peter Landers of Danvers, Timothy and Nanda Landers of Maynard and Corey and Matt Reed of Danvers. He was the very proud grampy to seven grandchildren: Kathleen Landers, Becky Landers and Daniel Landers of Danvers, Kevin Landers and Bridgette Landers of Maynard and Jamie and Aly Reed of Danvers. He is also survived by his beloved sister Margo Martin and her husband Richard of Maine and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his older brothers Dale and Kerry Landers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the , P.O. Box 2076, Danvers, MA 01923 or the Danvers Blue & White Hall of Fame, c/o Barry Robertson, 10 Worthington Ave., Danvers, MA 01923.