Richard M Gottlieb

With great sadness, we announce that Richard (Richie) M. Gottlieb, 88, of Westborough, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 16, 2025, rejoining his soulmate, lifelong love, and devoted wife of nearly 68 years, Roberta (Sirotto) Gottlieb, who left Richard’s side four months earlier. Having shared a lifetime of love, partnership, and family, they are together once again.

Born in New York City, Richie was the beloved son of Samuel and Jeanne (Marglis) Gottlieb, and spent his formative years in Larchmont, NY, with his twin brother Michael and younger sister, Ellen. As a freshman at MIT in Boston, he met Roberta (Bobbie) L. Sirotto, the love of his life. They married on June 29, 1958, beginning a remarkable 67-year journey together, built on deep love, family, and shared adventures.

In 1961, after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, Richie and Bobbie, with two young sons in tow, moved to Milan, Italy, beginning a 19-year European chapter that would shape every part of their family life. Soon after their arrival, their third son was born in Milan, completing the family of five who would share decades of adventure and discovery together in Europe. Richie built a distinguished career as a systems engineer for Olivetti and Siemens, serving as Italy’s representative to the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA). His work was instrumental in defining the multi-national computer character set still in use today, and he later implemented information management systems for the Italian Railway (Ferrovie dello Stato). After nearly a decade in Milan, the family moved to Rome, where Richie continued his career at Control Data Corporation, before spending four cherished years in Paris as Manager of Manufacturing Management Information Systems at Abbott Laboratories.

All the while, Richie and his family flourished, continuing to immerse themselves in the beauty, cuisine, and culture of Italy and France. Long summer vacations were filled with with extended stays in Lake Garda, Recco and Fregene, where the family savored the idyllic days on lake beaches and the Italian Riviera. Countless family experiences of joy and discovery such as these balanced beautifully with Richie’s professional achievements, shaping an extremely rich and memorable family life.

The 19 years abroad together reflected Richie and Bobbie’s shared love of travel, culture, and cuisine, and their strong devotion to raising Geoffrey, Seth, and Jonathan with a deep appreciation for multilingualism and the richness and diversity of the world. Their passion for exploration became a lasting family tradition, continuing through decades of shared family trips and gatherings across the globe. The warmth of those years; long Italian summers, snowy alpine holidays, and evenings of laughter and good food with friends, remain among some of the family’s most treasured memories.

In 1980, the Gottliebs returned to the United States, settling in Westborough, MA. There, Richie continued his professional career with Data General and Factory Mutual Engineering, while supporting Bobbie in pursuing her passion for knitting as they opened her beloved yarn shop, Bags Full of Yarn, in downtown Westborough. Their move also marked the beginning of a cherished new chapter, becoming grandparents. For Richie, this was one of life’s greatest joys. He and Bobbie embraced their growing family with boundless love, delighting in each new grandchild and celebrating every milestone with pride. Together, Richie and Bobbie stayed closely connected to their children and grandchildren, offering a steady presence of wisdom, warmth, and love.

A lifelong model train enthusiast, Richie designed and built the most intricate of layouts, pouring creativity, patience, and precision into every detail of his train set design. He loved sharing this with his three boys and grandchildren, sparking their curiosity and wonder. Richie was also a lover of words, whether solving puzzles, delighting in Sudoku, or inventing his signature words, combining his fluency in English, Italian and French. A true buongustaio, he relished fine wine, delicious food and after dinner drinks, especially Nocino. The simple pleasures of swimming, sailing, and spending time with family and friends graced Richie and Bobbie’s beautiful life.

Richie is survived by his three sons: Geoffrey and his wife Tenessa of Jackson, WY; Seth and his wife Karen of Nantucket, MA; and Jonathan and his wife Cathy of Wheaton, IL; and by 11 cherished grandchildren: Robin, Christopher, Nicole, Cameron, Zoë, Alexandra, Adam, Daniel, Joshua, Logan, and Brooke. He also leaves behind his twin brother, Michael Gottlieb of Natick, MA; his sister, Ellen Steele of Sarasota, FL; and many other family members and lifelong friends who will carry his memory forward.

Funeral services will be private. Memorial contributions in Richie’s name may be made to the UMass Memorial Office of Philanthropy, 365 Plantation St., One Biotech, Worcester, MA 01605.

The Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, is honored to assist the family. To leave a message of condolence, please visit Richie’s webpage at www.Mercadantefuneral.com.