On May 20, 2026, Richard Lambert Lord, Jr., of Bushwood, MD, sailed beyond the horizon and took his final voyage.
A self-described “Connecticut Yankee by birth, and a Bostonian by the grace of God,” Richard was born February 20, 1947, in New Britain, CT, to Richard L. Lord, Sr., and Helene (Church) Sanderson. Later resettling in the Boston area, he graduated from Newton North High School in 1965, participating in varsity football, baseball, and Orange Shield. Working his way through college on scallop boats in New Bedford, MA, Richard graduated from the Marriot School of Business at BYU in 1969. His first professional job was director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, helping underprivileged youth in Trenton, NJ. He went on to work as a civil servant in Washington, DC, for a variety of federal departments, always trying to improve the world around him, better his community, and further civil rights. He retired from the government in 2014, settling permanently with his wife Nancy at a farm just off the Potomac in Bushwood.
Richard loved the beauty of classic cars, owning several during his life; avidly pursued the nostalgia and craftsmanship of Lionel trains (contributing a detailed section on the F3 diesels to Greenberg’s Guide to Lionel Trains); enjoyed a lifelong passion for family and American history, road tripping to historic sites all along the East Coast; reveled in the soundtrack of the 1960s and ’70s, including being the #1 groupie for his wife Nancy; and fiercely rooted for his favorite athletic teams, including the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, and the BYU Cougars. Happiest near the water, he loved scuba diving, boating, the beaches of Puerto Rico, and watching osprey dive for fish near the dock of his home.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy Zearfoss; his two children, Liz and Lee Lord; his sisters, Joanne Brochu and Suzanne Lawver; and many other loved ones who will miss him. They take comfort imagining him now near calm blue waters, classic rock songs drifting through the air, having finally found his own Margaritaville.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 11:00 AM EST, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 22747 Old Rolling Rd., Lexington Park, MD. Interment will follow in All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery, Avenue, MD.
A viewable online at bit.ly/richard_lord_funeral.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the National Park Foundation, via nationalparks.org or (888) 467-2757; or the Dickinson Family Association, 17 Iroquois Drive, Northborough, MA, 01532.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.
Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
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