Read Richard "Smoke" Erwin Briscoe's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Richard "Smoke" Erwin Briscoe

Brewster, MA, USA

May 31, 1930 - December 19, 2020

May 31, 1930 - Dec 19, 2020

In lieu of flowers

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Broad Reach Hospice, North Chatham, MA.

Learn more & give
Help keep everyone in the know by sharing this memorial website.

Share

Photo

Richard Erwin Briscoe, Brewster, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He was 90 years old. This is not just his obituary; it is, more importantly, a notice of a life well-lived.
Smoke, as his friends knew him, found great pleasure in playing golf, fishing, bowling, watching football, playing baseball and basketball as a young man, watching horse and car racing. He loved dogs, boating, lakes, rivers, being close to the ocean, especially in the winter months in Florida, but more than anything else, he loved his family and his friends although he outlived most of the latter. He was a fiercely loyal and loving husband to Phyllis (McGivney) for 69 years, a generous, proud and devoted father to Lynn Catherine Bouck (James), Christine Briscoe, Stephen Briscoe(Kenneth Hawkey), and Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe (Alyssa M. Doolittle).
He loved spending time with his mother and father, Olla and Clark Briscoe, who pre-deceased him in the 1970’s; he treasured his time with his brothers Clark Jr., Paul and his sister Doris. The youngest, Smoke, suffered the loss of each of his siblings deeply. Admired and enjoyed by his nieces and nephews who all remember his humor and kindness, he was equally loved by Phyllis’ family and they became his family easily and fully. Seldom are in-laws as well loved and as cherished as he was. He understood “family” and understood that family is the foundation of good living.
Born in Schenectady County, New York, Smoke worked his way up through the ranks of General Electric Company and retired early at age 58 and except for a bit of consulting work that included visiting South Korea, he never looked back and didn’t miss working at all. Which is not to say he didn’t keep busy and active. His days involved golf, frequent breakfasts, lunches and dinners out, tasks at home, at his friends’ and children’s homes, travel and enjoying life as much and as well as he was able.
Both he and his family will always be amazed by and supremely grateful for the brilliant medical care and generous and kind support of the many professionals who have cared for him through many illnesses over the years and, for the past many months, the unsurpassable loving care rendered by the team at Broad Reach Hospice in Chatham, MA, including and especially Lucy Elmer, RN, Maureen Casale, RN, Robin Fuller-Locke, Tiffany Nicely-Holleck and Michael Smith. Their commitment and professionalism made his last months as joyful and as peacefully comfortable as possible.
Smoke had the great pleasure of watching his grandchildren grow up. On the day his first and only granddaughter, Merideth Janke(John) was born, Smoke, in bed with Mononucleosis, gave up smoking. His grandsons are Michael James Alderdice (Christina), Gregory Paul McGrath (Casey McMorrow), Douglas Richard Bouck, and Daniel Phillip Bouck(Christopher). Smoke and Phyllis proudly called themselves great-grandparents to Matthew and Luke Janke, and Caitlyn and Marissa Alderdice.
When diagnosed with a rare form of cancer several years ago, Smoke made the decision to leave his body to the medical research community at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Anatomical Gift Program.
Due to the current Covid-19 crisis, no services are planned. The family asks that any expressions of esteem honoring Smoke be made in his memory to Broad Reach Hospice, 390 Orleans Road, North Chatham, MA 02650. https://www.broadreachhealth.…

Order a beautiful PDF you can print and save or share.

Get the PDF

Get notified when new photos, stories and other important updates are shared.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Broad Reach Hospice, North Chatham, MA.

Learn more & give

My deepest condolences to the Briscoe family. What a lovely tribute to his life. He sounds like a wonderful human being…

My deepest condolences to the Briscoe family. What a lovely tribute to his life. He sounds like a w…

My deepest condolences to the Briscoe family. What a lovely trib…