Richard M. Green, Sr., 83, of Middletown, DE, died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 31, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, teacher, coach and farmer.
A lifelong resident of the Middletown area Richard was born in Philadelphia, PA on April 13, 1938. He married his high school sweetheart, Marlene Meyer, in January 1961. Richard graduated from the University of Delaware, where he majored in Agriculture, earned 9 varsity letters in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, and was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Richard returned to Middletown High School alma mater to work for 32 years, serving as a librarian, science teacher, agriculture teacher, co-op coordinator, athletic director and coach of numerous sports including track, cross country, and baseball. As head baseball coach for 19 years, he remains the winningest coach in school history. Richard was a 9-time Blue Hen Conference Coach of the Year and 1986 Delaware State Coach of the Year. His teams won 12 conference titles and players included 4 who went on to be drafted professionally.
After his teaching career Richard remained active in baseball, serving as Assistant Coach alongside his son, John, at Howard High School of Technology, Salem Community College and St. Georges Technical High School. He was the first Delaware coach to be named both head and assistant coach of the year and was inducted into the Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Delaware Association of Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 2015.
In addition to coaching, Richard was a life-long dairy farmer and in retirement became one of the most prestigious breeders of Red and White Holstein cattle in the world, winning numerous Premier Exhibitor and Breeder banners at the World Dairy Expo. He exhibited four Grand Champions of the Red and White Show at World Dairy Expo with four different cows. Richard twice had the Reserve Grand Champion, several Junior Champions, and 56 class winners that he bred or owned. Even today the “Greelea” farm prefix is in the pedigree of many of the breed’s top individuals across the world.
Richard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marlene of Middletown, DE; four children, Richard Jr. of Geneva, Switzerland, Victor (Tracy) of Middletown, Julie (Brian) of McLean, VA and John (Meg) of Middletown; and 9 grandchildren.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 pm until 8 pm on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 E. Main Street, Middletown, DE. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at St. Joseph Parish, 371 E. Main Street, Middletown, DE 19709. Face coverings will be required for all those in attendance not immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine per the Governor of Delaware. Interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard’s name to The Parkinson’s Foundation, by clicking here or to Compassionate Care Hospice, by clicking here.