By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.
School Committeeman Richard Baniewicz passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Dec. 2. The late Committeeman had served 15 years on the board, and was born and raised in Everett – playing football, graduating Northeastern
University and serving his community for a lifetime.
The news on Saturday that longtime Everett resident and School Committeeman Richard Baniewicz had passed unexpectedly came as a shock. Baniewicz, 67, was admired and well-respected across the city and everyone who spoke about him and knew him said, “Richie was a great guy.”
Baniewicz served on the Everett School Committee for the last 15 years, but his career in public service and his personal history of serving the city he loved began well before that.
Richard Baniewicz graduated from Everett High School in 1969, with fellow former School Committeeman Robert Carreiro, who also died while in office just two short months ago.
Baniewicz was the president of his graduating class at EHS, and was a co-captain of the football team. Baniewicz earned a scholarship to Northeastern University for football, where he was nominated as National Little American All-American, and later graduated Northeastern with a degree in Business Management.
He served for three terms as an Everett Common Councilor, before being elected to the School Committee, where he served for another 15 years until his death. But those facts do not give a picture of the man Richard was, those who knew him said.
“His love of his community is a theme that comes up again and again when you talk about Richard Baniewicz,” said Everett Superintendent of Schools Frederick Foresteire. “He was very active in the E Club and lived in the city all of his life. He and his wife were both dedicated to the city, they loved Everett.”
Baniewicz’s late wife, Linda, like him, was an Everett native and lifelong resident. She taught in the Everett schools for 32 years before her death, and the couple, in their life together, represented the best of what Everett has to offer.
Baniewicz’s services are being arranged through the Cafasso and Sons Funeral Home in Everett, with visitation on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 4-8 p.m. and funeral services beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7. A funeral Mass in his memory will be held beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Immaculate Conception Church on Broadway.