'One of those special Quincy people': Why Richie Meade's remembered for hours of service

QUINCY − The Quincy Planning Board postponed all business for its Aug. 2 meeting and instead paid tribute to Richard Meade, the board's chairman, who had died the night before at age 77.

At the front of the meeting room in city hall, instead of the usual architectural designs set up on easels, a framed photograph of "Richie" Meade was placed on a chair facing the audience.

A Quincy native and lifelong resident, Meade graduated from Boston College in 1968 before joining the Quincy planning department the following year. More than half a century of public service followed.

"He spent his life volunteering in the city of Quincy," Planning Director Jim Fatseas said during the meeting. "'Unselfish' is the word that comes to mind."

Fatseas and Deputy Planning Director Rob Stevens said Meade had been fighting cancer for the last several years while also serving as planning board chairman.

“We all watched Richie battle with his ailments," Fatseas said. "You’d call and he’d say, ‘Don’t call me on Tuesday. I’m going in for an infusion. Just give me a call on Wednesday.'

"I’d be curled up crying like a little girl in my crib if I went through half the crap he went through."

Meade was appointed planning director in 1987 by Mayor Frank McCauley and served in that role until his retirement in 2003. He then worked as the administrator of the Norfolk County grand jury.

Throughout his adult life, Meade volunteered on various Quincy boards and committees, including the planning board, which he joined in 2010 as an appointee of Mayor Thomas Koch. He would go on to to chair that board from 2015 until his death.

After entering government in 1988, Koch could count on Meade's guidance.

"Richie was one of those go-to guys you bounced things off of and always got good advice," Koch said.

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"He loved Quincy. He always did the right thing," Koch said. "The City Club, the Flag Day parade, he was active with St. Ann's. ... He was one of those special Quincy people they don't make anymore."

Fatseas said Meade was always active, whether it was overseeing a complex economic development project or sitting in a dunk tank teasing children at a neighborhood carnival.

"I'll never reach the amount of involvement or hours, never, that Richie put in," Fatseas said. "I don't think anybody can."

How Richard Meade served and changed Quincy

Working under eight different mayors, Meade spent decades ushering in many of the signature development projects that have shaped Quincy into the city it is today.

Through Community Development Block Grants, upwards of $100 million passed through the planning department, which Meade directed to worthy projects and programs, Stevens said.

Some of those programs included aid to first-time homebuyers, affordable-housing development, support for the Father Bill's homeless shelter and road reconstruction in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.

Koch said that Meade's influence can be seen all around the city.

"As planning director and certainly as planning board member, he would have been part of decisionmaking on a number of economic development projects over the last several decades," Koch said.

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"You see some of these great projects that happen in economic development. There's a lot of hands in that, usually a lot of private investment. But it's the city folks that navigate those projects to completion, and Richie was a master at it.

"Quincy is a better place because of Richie Meade," Koch said.

Why he will be remembered in Quincy

Projects Meade helped bring to fruition include some well-known Quincy landmarks. The Crown Colony Office Park received its first tenants under Meade's leadership. His department also conceived the idea for a golf course and athletic fields in West Quincy, according to planning department documents.

Many residential developments were built during Meade's tenure on the planning board. Some of the largest include Crown Colony Elevation, The Abby in North Quincy, Nova Residences on Hancock Street, One Chestnut Place and Ashlar Park.

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In total, more than 6,000 housing units spread across 108 projects gained planning board approval during Meade's time on the board.

Meade's friends and family point to his volunteering and civic spirit when discussing his legacy. Stevens said Meade embodied the principle of public service.

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"You have something to say or offer, then step up and volunteer if it's for the greater good," Stevens said. "I think that's the mantra that he followed.

"He's not a politician but he believed in government," Stevens said. "He believed in municipalities and self-rule and our democracy and our republic. We need more people like this."

Fatseas said that above all, Meade's volunteerism set an example for others.

"He's someone that anybody should emulate," Fatseas said. "Period. That's my postscript."

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Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Richard Meade changed Quincy's development and economics: His legacy