Richard (Rick) Dalessio, 75

On the afternoon of Oct. 1, 2026, Rick settled into his fancy new recliner to watch the baseball playoffs. He drifted off to sleep. He never woke up. He died the way all of us wish to — peacefully in his sleep — but much too soon for all of us who loved him.

Rick was born Nov. 29, 1950, in Springfield, Mass. His father, Henry, was an optometrist, his mother, Bernardine, a homemaker. He had a big brother, Phillip. Rick had a wonderful childhood. He was part of a large, loving Italian clan. His grandmother Philomena was the oldest of nine girls. Rick was an altar boy and a gifted athlete. He spent magical summers on the Connecticut shore at his grandmother’s ocean cottage with a multitude of cousins.

In May of 1966, when Rick was 15, his whole world was shattered. His beloved father, who attended every one of his sons’ practices and games and coached them in multiple sports, died of a massive stroke at only 42. Gone was the beautiful suburban home and the carefree life. The family moved back to the city and in with Philomena. Rick’s mom went to work.

Rick graduated from Longmeadow High School in 1968, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. He was proud of quarterbacking the Longmeadow Lancers for all four years. With the help of a supportive coach, he secured a scholarship to play football for the Curry Colonels, a Division 3 private college in Milton, Mass., where he quarterbacked the Colonels to win the New England Small College Championship. He graduated from college in 1973 with a degree in chemistry and went to work as a lab tech at Yale University.

In 1975, Rick left New England and headed West to graduate school at the University of Idaho. He credited John Denver’s "Rocky Mountain High" and a supportive Yale professor with inspiring him to go. His mother thought he had lost his mind. Shortly after arriving in Moscow, he fell under the spell of freshman Barbara (Babs) Buchanan, a native Idahoan. Rick and Babs moved in together on July 4, 1976. Both families despaired.

The story has a happy ending. Rick and Babs married May 28, 1977, and remained deeply and passionately in love until the day Rick died. Rick eventually earned an MBA and a teaching certificate and Babs a BA and a law degree. Daughter Katherine (Katie) was born in 1980, followed by Elizabeth (Betsy) in 1983. In 1986, the family moved to Sandpoint — their forever home.

Rick taught chemistry at Priest River Junior High while pursuing a master’s in education. He was principal at Priest River Junior High, principal at Clark Fork High School, vice principal at Sandpoint High School and ended his career as principal at Lake Pend Oreille High School. He loved teaching and running a school. He said he got along best with teenagers because he still felt like a big kid himself. Rick retired in 2013. After he retired, his favorite part of the day was grocery shopping and errands, when he would stop to say hello and have a chat with everyone he knew.

Rick loved his family, the Patriots, the Celtics, the Red Sox, Christmas, and the Sandpoint community. He loved when former students would come up to say hi to Mr. D. His favorite place in the world was in the middle of Lake Pend Oreille in his pontoon boat. Whenever he left Sandpoint for more than a day, he would drive across the Long Bridge remarking how beautiful it was, and, evoking Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, intone a heartfelt “there is no place like home.”

Rick is survived by his wife, Barbara Buchanan; his brother, Philip (Carol) Dalessio; his daughters, Katie and Betsy Dalessio; his foster daughter, Holli (Mike) Barros; nine grandchildren; and countless friends.

There will be a celebration of Rick’s life at the Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., Sandpoint, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026. Please join us to share memories, pictures, music, food, and friendship.