Richard G. Collins

Richard Collins joined his loved ones in eternal life with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on January 7, 2026. He was predeceased by his wife Mary A. (Parker) Collins.

Born in Salem, Massachusetts, on January 28, 1948. He grew up in Marblehead, where he graduated from Marblehead High School in 1966. He was the son of Lillian L. and Earle. S. Collins, a Harvard graduate, who taught at Salem State College for over twenty years. The Collins Observatory there is named in his honor.

After earning a BA degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1971 Mr. Collins enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in an experimental combat unit at Fort Ord, California. Shortly after he was honorably discharged as a Specialist Fourth Class, he met his future wife Mary A. Hopkins. They were married in 1975 at a Presbyterian Church in Bedford New Hampshire.

Mr. Collins joined ITT Lamp Division on the Lynn-way in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1972. He began his career as a technician where he learned the basics of lighting and lamp manufacturing. Eventually Philips Lighting, a Dutch company, bought out ITT but Mr. Collins remained with the operation for twenty-three years ultimately becoming Manager of their Corporate Calibration and Measurements Laboratory. In 1995 he joined OSRAM Sylvania as a Staff Scientist working with the Department of Energy and other federal regulatory agencies. During his time with OSRAM, he became Vice President of Technical & Research for the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, a distinguished position that he held for four years. He left OSRAM in September of 2008 to teach and tutor math and science to middle school students.

Outside of his career he was active for many years in teaching Sunday school at West Congregational Church in Haverhill, Massachusetts and in Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America where he conducted fund raising operations and mentored to three young boys. Mr. Collins’ hobbies included camping, biking, astronomy, woodworking, music, photography, and model trains.

Mr. Collins leaves his children Thomas and Carole Hopkins and Kenneth Collins and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother David Collins and sister Amy Leck.

His Funeral Service will be celebrated on Monday February 2, 2026 at 4PM in West Church,767 Broadway, Haverhill, MA. All other services are private. Online directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com