Richard James Scionti died peacefully in his sleep at Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Beverly, Massachusetts on August 24, 2025 at the age of 82.  He was born on April 19, 1943 in Lawrence, Massachusetts.  He served as an altar boy at Holy Rosary Church in Lawrence.  Following his graduation from Central Catholic School, he enlisted in the US Navy.  He graduated from the navy’s rigorous nuclear-powered submarine training program, and was assigned to the USS Sam Houston, a nuclear powered submarine that carried the Polaris nuclear weapon.  He often joked about sleeping in a bunk next to a nuclear bomb.  He served in the US Navy from 1960 to 1966 during the Vietnam War, earning the Navy’s Good Conduct Medal plus the National Service Medal.

Richard loved the ocean.  The family spent countless weekends traveling to beaches and various seaside locations along the coast of New Hampshire and Maine.

Richard is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Linda, his daughter Rachael Jessica Scionti of West Newbury, his son Matthew Vincent Scionti of Apex, North Carolina, and five grandchildren:  seven-year old Vivian Vousboukis, two-year twins Wynter and Evelyn Vousboukis, four-year old Sofia Scionti, and two-year old Vincent Scionti.

Richard was buried alongside his fellow veterans in Cowles Memorial Cemetery in Ipswich.  A memorial brick in the Veteran’s Memorial Walkway in Ipswich is a permanent tribute to his service in the US Navy.

Richard will forever be missed by his wife, children and grandchildren.  Assisting the Scionti family is the Morris Funeral Home of Ipswich.  To send a letter of condolence to Richard’s family please go to:  MorrisFH.com .