RICHARD MICHAEL HAVERLAND

Richard M. (Dick) Haverland of Vero Beach, Florida and Little Compton, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully at home in Little Compton on December 9, 2023, surrounded by loving family, from complications of  lymphoma.  He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rosemary (Dies), along with his daughters Julia Bush (Jim), Lucy Haverland (Craig Joffe), and Laura Haverland (Andrew Morley).  Dick was a devoted grandfather to Sam, Henry and Olivia Bush; Rose, Lila and Leo Joffe; and Annie and Louisa Morley.  He is also survived by brothers Jim (Judi) and Bill Haverland (Tom Saunders) and sister Patricia Haverland (Mark McBride); his sister Christine Martinez-Fonts predeceased him.

Dick was born in Brooklyn, NY to Irene and William Haverland on March 22, 1941; his family later moved to Long Island where Dick graduated from Chaminade High School.   He was a graduate of Princeton University in 1963, where he  was also a member of the varsity golf and cheerleading teams. Ever frugal, he loved to tell the story of how he hitchhiked cross-country to California in order to begin his studies at Stanford University, where he got an MBA in 1965, concentrating in finance and marketing.

Dick’s professional career started in New York City as a financial analyst for Shearson Hamill, Allied Chemical, and TWA.   He joined a small but promising insurance company in the Cleveland, OH area in 1970 – Progressive Insurance - where he worked for 14 years as VP Finance, VP Marketing, and President.   He then held a series of senior executive positions at American Financial Group (Cincinnati), Continental Corp (New York City) and Highlands Insurance (Houston).   In retirement, Dick served on numerous boards and was elected to serve eight years as a city council member in Indian River Shores, FL.

In addition to family, Dick’s love and attention were focused on sports, both as an athlete and supporter (of Princeton teams and whatever teams his children or grandchildren were on).  He was a three-time national champion in platform tennis, in the senior category. He won many golf tournaments in both USSGA Seniors and local clubs in Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, and Rhode Island.   He also was runner-up in the 75+ division in  the Summer National Pickleball Games last year, at age 81, before his cancer diagnosis.  In retirement, Dick took up bridge.  He became a Life Master and played competitively until the end. He took great joy in any competition, especially when he was the winner -  and he was always a great sport, even if he came in second place.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Saint Catherine of Siena Church, 74 Simmons Road, Little Compton. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Haverland Family Scholarship Fund at Chaminade High School, Mineola, NY or to The Learning Alliance, (https://www.thelearningalliance.org) or Child Care Resources, (https://childcareresourcesir.org), both in Vero Beach, FL. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Vero Beach.

Arrangements by FERN ACRES FUNERAL HOME. To send condolences please visit www.fernacresfuneralhome.com

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