TOPSFIELD — Francis James Reichardt, age 90, of Topsfield, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. He was the husband of Eileen Burns Reichardt, with whom he shared 51 years of marriage.
Born in Lynn, he was the son of the late Henry Otto and Anne Elizabeth (Crowley) Reichardt. He was a graduate of Lynn Classical High School, Fanny Farmer’s Cooking School and Fitchburg State College.
Francis served as a seaman first class in the United States Navy during World War II. He was employed as a manager for the 99 Restaurant on Devonshire Street in Boston. He also taught food trades at Lynn Vocational and Technical Institute for 22 years.
In retirement, he and his wife Eileen traveled to 45 countries, as well as most states in this country. He was a member of the LaSalette Faith Community and St. Rose of Lima Church in Topsfield.
He worked at St. Rose’s bazaar in the jewelry and white elephant booths. He was a volunteer for both the Peabody and Topsfield Council on Aging, as well as the Boy Scout Troop 81 in Topsfield, and was a member of the Peabody COA Woodcarvers and the New England Woodcarvers. A 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, he was past grand knight of the Leo Council #508, Peabody. He was also a member of the German-American Club of the North Shore. Francis played Santa Claus for special needs adults each year as well.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, James Francis Reichardt and his wife Sheilah (Griffin) of Reading; his grandchildren, Kevin Griffin Reichardt, Gavin James Reichardt and John “Jack” Richard Reichardt, all of Reading; his brother, Henry J. Reichardt and his wife Mary Rice of Lynn; and his sister, Ruth (Reichardt) Demins and her husband William of Altamonte Springs, Fla. He was the brother of the late Doris Martin and her husband Charles.
Service information: A memorial visitation will be held on Friday from 10-11 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church, 12 Park St., Topsfield, followed by a memorial Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Topsfield. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923. Arrangements by the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, Lynn. Directions and guestbook at Solimine.com.