Richard T. Cassidy passed away on April 21, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., after a valiant struggle with cancer.
He was born in Rutland, Vt., on July 13, 1953, to Paul P. Cassidy and S. Helen Cassidy. He graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy in 1971 and the University of Vermont in 1975. After marrying his beloved Becky (Burr) in 1974, they relocated to Albany, N.Y., where he attended Albany Law School at Union University and graduated in 1978. That summer, after he passed both the New York and Vermont Bar exams, Rich and Becky moved to Montpelier, Vt., where Rich began a yearlong clerkship with the Hon. Robert W. Larrow at the Vermont Supreme Court. The following year he became chief law clerk and worked for Chief Justice Albert W. Barney. He entered private practice in Burlington following his clerkships, originally with the firm of Hoff, Wilson, Powell and Lang, and then with Hoff Curtis.
In 2020 he formed Rich Cassidy Law in South Burlington and practiced with Matt Shagam and Amanda Lee. He most recently practiced with his law partner and old friend, Michael Brow.
He served his community, state and nation with dedicated enthusiasm. Governor Howard Dean appointed Rich to the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) in 1994, and he was reappointed by every successive Vermont governor and was still serving at the time of his death. He was a past president of the ULC, and he and Becky delighted in bringing the annual conference of the commission to Stowe Mountain Lodge in 2016. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association (ABA) from 2005 to 2008 and was chair of the ABA’s standing committee on the delivery of legal services. He represented the Vermont Bar Association in the ABA House of Delegates. He was currently serving on the Vermont Bar Association Board of Managers and was president-elect. He is a former president of the American Counsel Association. He chaired the South Burlington School Board from 2007 through 2013. He proudly served as counsel to the Burlington Police Officers Association and as a legal analyst for NBC5.
He leaves Becky Cassidy, his wife of 50 years, and his sisters Joanne (Dick) Navin and Mary (Carl) Mazzariello. He was predeceased by his sisters Paula (John) Turner and Margaret Cassidy and his brother, Sam Ingraham. He also leaves his nieces and nephews: Lisa (Stacey O’Neil), Tony (Donna) and Carla Mazzariello; Mark Navin (Rob Temoteo); Lisa Fuller (Steve); Rick Navin (Lisa), Tom Navin (Mike O’Neil) and Krista Navin (Josh Schroeder); Cathy Seguin (Bill); John Turner (Sharon Cook); Laurie Turner (Senta Mungar); Patty Tervo (Steve); and Mike Turner (Kelly).
Additionally, Rich cherished his three granddaughters by affection: Emma Chaffee, Alexandria Kennedy and Reese Billings.
Rich loved Lake Champlain and his Queen City Park neighborhood, where he was a popular walker with his beloved dogs, Baxter and Sophie Ann. Both dogs learned to pause as human social interaction slowed their pace but added to the congenial and happy environment in which they frolicked. Healthier summers saw Rich and Becky launching their Adirondack guide boat for a row across Shelburne Bay, often with Baxter or Sophie in the prow. Trained in childhood as a swimming racer, Rich delighted in stroking across the bay with his identifying orange swim buoy trailing behind.
Throughout the last fourteen months, an extraordinary group of friends and neighbors have supported and assisted Rich and Becky on Rich’s journey. Our thanks to Dr. Dennis Beatty (Dennis the Archangel); Julie Beatty; Dr. Julie Olin; Dr. Chris Grace; Dr. Jim Wallace; Paul Cillo; Andi Higbee; Lori Hayes and Mark Chaffee; Karen Villanti; Patty, Don and Buffy Malenfant; Sandy Julius; Mike and Deb Brow; Marcy King; Bob Paolini; Matt Shagam and Courtney Seale; Dr. Nate Heilman and Therese Fafard; Dr. Annie Kluetmeier; Tom McCormick; Monsignor Richard Lavalley; Dane and Diane Bacon; Scott Bacon and Nicki Trottier; Tom Powell and Wendy Bratt; Joy and Jim Grossman; JoAnne and Reese Billings; the Margulius family; Dan Smith; Carl Lisman and Deb Smith; and Jeanne Kennedy.
A celebration of life for Rich will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, 4 p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Society, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Uniform Law Commission Foundation, 111 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 1010, Chicago, Ill.; the Queen City Police Foundation, PO Box 5804, Burlington, VT 05402; or the charity of your choice.
Messages of condolence may be sent to becky@richcassidylaw.com.
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2025.