Richard C. Michael, 83, of Chelmsford, formerly of Lowell and Groton, MA, died Wednesday October 13, 2010 at Chelmsford Crossings. He was the beloved husband of Virginia "Ginger" (Dee) Michael for 39 years. Born in Lowell on October 22, 1926 he was the son of the late Joseph and Catherine (Broadbent) Michael. He was a graduate of Lowell High School and later received his Bachelors degree in Education in 1958 and Masters degree in Science in 1959 from Calvin Coolidge College in Boston. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Ostara and was the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, and American & Asiatic Pacific Medals. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans. After the war, Mr. Michael took a position at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Concord as a Corrections Officer in 1951. During his 31-year career at M.C.I Concord, he rose through the ranks as Social Worker, Head Social Worker, Deputy Superintendent, and retired in 1982 as Superintendent of the Massachusetts Correctional Institute. After his retirement from M.C.I. Concord, Mr. Michael became a licensed real estate agent. His greatest passion was buying land and building homes at the beach in York, Maine. He finally found the ocean-front home he was always searching for in Plymouth, MA where they vacationed for many years. He also enjoyed working with horses, spending time with his family & friends, and favorite bulldog Bosco. In addition to his wife Ginger, survivors include his son Stephen J. Michael and his wife Amy of Charlestown, his sister Dorothy Belanger of Syracuse, New York, two sisters-in-law Judy Herlihy and her husband Paul of Acton and Janet Weed and her husband Carl of Winterport, Maine, a brother-in-law Philip Dee of Townsend and many special nieces and nephews. Memorials: Donations in his memory may be made to Paul Center for Learning and Recreation, Inc., ( in honor of Wendy Ann Weed), 39 Concord Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824.(www.ThePaulCenter.org) Cemetery: Interment Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord. Visitation: Visiting hours Monday October 18th from 5 to 8 pm. Service: Funeral Tuesday October 19th from the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center at 9 am followed by a funeral Mass in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord at 10 am.