Richard J. Yanis

Richard J. Yanis, 97, of Sudbury and formerly of Salem, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 9th after a period of declining health.  He was the beloved husband of Bertha (Kvetkas) Waleyko Yanis.

Mr. Yanis was born in Dorchester, MA on April 17, 1923, the son of the late Katherine (Klimas) and John Gavriel Yaniunas. He was a graduate of Boston Latin High School and earned a mechanical engineering degree from M. I. T.   A Navy veteran, he served in the Pacific during World War II. Throughout a long career, he worked for General Electric,  Atwood Morrill, and Stone & Webster Engineering. An accomplished photographer, he operated Dick Yanis Photography from his home in Salem until retiring in 1998, and had been active with the Lynn Camera Club for many years. A communicant of Ste. Anne Parish in Salem for 50 years, he moved from Salem to Sudbury in 2018.

In addition to his wife of 27 years, he leaves his daughter, Katherine Barber and her husband Crey of Wakefield; six stepchildren, Barbara Buscemi and husband Robert of New Ipswich, NH, Diana Pedersen and husband Kenneth of Holliston, Rita Holmes and husband William of Littleton, NH, Randall Waleyko and wife Gene of Bedford, Robert Waleyko and wife Julie of Middletown, RI, and John Waleyko and wife Lisa of Texas; 16 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his first wife, Ann (Taros), who died in 1991 after 40 years of marriage, and his sister, Florence Gedry.

Calling hours at the Williams-Pedersen Funeral Home, Inc., 45 Main St., Upton, will be Thursday, June 11 from 2 to 4 p.m., social distancing guidelines and face coverings are required. Graveside services with military honors will take place on Friday at 11 a.m. in Swampscott Cemetery, 400 Essex St., Swampscott.

In lieu of flowers, donations to your local animal shelter would be appreciated.