Richard Dunbar Bee

Richard Dunbar Bee, 90, always and forever of Marblehead, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2025 in Concord, MA in the comforting care of the CareOne staff and his son David and daughter-in-law Heather.

Richard, known throughout his life as Dick, was the only child of Louise Daniels and James Dunbar Bee. He was a “true Marbleheader” – born at Mary Alley Hospital in Marblehead on October 29, 1934. As a child in his beloved hometown, Dick attended the Roads School, played baseball at Seaside Park and rode his bike all over town with “the gang,” all of whom, of course, had nicknames (his, not surprisingly, was “Bumble”). Precious childhood summers were spent at “Idunbee,” the family cottage at Lake Sunapee. In October of 1943, when Dick was just nine years old, his father enlisted in the U.S. Navy. James served during World War II with the Seabees in Guam, returning home in November of 1945.

When not working or in school, Dick could always be found on some field or court playing baseball, football, or basketball. Throughout his life, he loved to tell stories about the freedom, camaraderie, and joy of growing up in Marblehead, which he described as the best hometown in the world.

Dick graduated from Marblehead High School with “the crew of ’52.” He took a “gap year” (before the term was invented), to take additional math classes. In the fall of 1953, he traveled to Buzzards Bay to become a “Youngie” (first-year cadet) at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Unlike the beautiful MMA campus of today, in the 1950s, there were no frills. A bachelor’s degree was earned in three straight years back then – no vacations or summers off. It was a demanding and grueling life – and Dick loved it. At MMA he played football and baseball, majored in Engineering, and traveled the world. On one weekend leave, while home in Marblehead, he took note of the new neighbor across the street. And so began what was then a long-distance romance with Marcia Jackson – the future matriarch of the Bee clan.

In 1956, Dick graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marine and electrical engineering. Now an Ensign, he immediately had orders from the U.S. Navy to report for active duty. Traveling from Marblehead to Naval Base Treasure Island, CA, Dick reported to Atomic, Biological and Chemical (“ABC”) School. Next, he proceeded to Amphibious Warfare Indoctrination in Coronado, CA. Following these twelve weeks of training, Dick traveled for 18 days from California to Yokosuka, Japan, where the USS Magoffin (APA-199) was in port. Dick served as an engineering officer aboard this ship for two years.

In 1957 Dick was granted 15 days of leave to return to Marblehead, where he and Marcia were married. After their honeymoon, he returned to the USS Magoffin in San Diego, CA.

A year later, the USS Magoffin was part of PHIBRON FIVE, a tactical and administrative organization of amphibious assault ships whose function was to transport troops and equipment. The ship was ordered to proceed to the Pacific Proving Grounds in Eniwetok. Operation Hardtack was the designation given to the atmospheric nuclear test series conducted by the U.S. in the Pacific Ocean and Nevada in 1958. During Operation Hardtack, the U.S. fired as many nuclear devices as had been fired in all prior Pacific Ocean tests. Dick was the USS Magoffin’s Damage Control Officer for 18 of the 35 detonations of Operation Hardtack. He literally witnessed the detonation of nuclear bombs from the deck of his ship.

Atomic Veterans were sworn to absolute secrecy about their participation in nuclear weapons testing. This oath was enforced by the Nuclear Radiation Secrecy Agreement Act, and it meant they could not discuss their experiences, even amongst themselves, under threat of severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment – a ban not lifted until 1996.

After his release from active duty in August, 1958, Dick returned to Marblehead. He began his civilian career at BOMAC, and continued to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve until 1972.

Dick and Marcia raised their family in Danvers. During those years, he worked as an engineering manager for Honeywell and Polaroid. Dick and Marcia enjoyed traveling, buying, selling and collecting antiques, and weekend gatherings by the pool with their family.

A warm and vibrant grandmother, Marcia was the glue of the family. It was devastating to us all when in her mid-50s, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Dick was a devoted, tireless caregiver for Marcia for years until she passed away, at home, in 1995.

Dick later remarried and lived in Rhode Island with his second wife Noeline until 2018. When he was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, with a presumptive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, Dick left Rhode Island, and he and Noeline divorced.

Over the next seven years, it became evident that Dick was suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. Dick’s son David and daughter-in-law Heather welcomed him into their home in Groton, where he lived for over a year before moving to assisted living at Langdon Place of Nashua, memory care at Bridges in Westford, and skilled nursing at CareOne in Concord. Each facility had caring and gifted staff members who helped us ensure that Dick was always safe, comfortable, and exceptionally well cared for. We extend our deepest and most sincere gratitude to everyone who assisted in Dick’s care.

Dick will be lovingly remembered by his children: David (Heather), Laurel (Dan), his grandchildren: Kyle (Jen), Jeff (Taylor), Allison (Bryan), Victoria (Mike), and Catherine (Sam), and his great-grandchildren: Sawyer, Dylan, and Connor.

Dick Bee was a “Header” from his first breath to his last (“Whip! Down Bucket!”), a proud alumnus of Mass Maritime Academy, an Atomic Veteran, and a retired Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. But to his family, Dick was a national treasure. Fair winds and following seas, Dick/Dad/Grampa. You were an officer and a gentleman, and you will be in our hearts forever.

Family and friends are invited to a brief time of visitation beginning at 9:30AM on Wednesday, June 18 in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers, followed by a service of honor and remembrance at 10AM. Military honors and burial will be at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Danvers. In lieu of flowers, Dick would be greatly honored by donations to the organizations he supported and cherished: Marblehead Museum (www.marbleheadmuseum.org), Massachusetts Maritime Academy (www.maritime.edu), or the Association of Atomic Veterans (www.naavets.org).