Richard L. Hildreth, Jr.

Richard "Dick" Lawrence Hildreth, Jr., 78, of Bethany Beach, Delaware, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 13, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Richard was born in Hartford, Connecticut to Rita Morris Hildreth and Richard Lawrence Hildreth Sr. Richard was raised in Melrose, Massachusetts and a proud Bostonian who attended Tufts University and cheered on his beloved Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots throughout his lifetime.

Richard believed that service to others was an honorable calling and duty. Richard enlisted in the United States Marine Corps upon his college graduation and received an honorable discharge after serving as a Captain in the Vietnam War. Richard went on to become an Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for 27 years, where he earned a Senior Executive Service award and ended his career as a Section Chief at Quantico. After retiring from the FBI, Richard served as the Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Crisis Response at Corporate Risk International, leading global operations involving international kidnapping, ransom and extortion for sixteen years, before his retirement in 2015.

Richard cherished his friends that felt like family, near and far. He loved staying in touch with former colleagues, neighbors and friends throughout his lifetime. He retired happily in the Salt Pond Community in Bethany Beach, where he enjoyed his time with fellow residents.

Richard’s greatest joy was being with his family. Richard is survived by the love of his life and wife of 48 years, Gloria; daughter, Julie (Rahi); sons Richard III and Matthew; his brother Robert (Diane) and five grandchildren, Richard IV, Grace, Miles, Sydney and Ava.

A funeral Mass will take place at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 4103 Prices Distillery Road, Ijamsville, MD 21754 on Thursday November 20, 2025 at 11am. Burial services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Richard's name to the Kline Hospice House, https://www.frederickhealthhospice.org/donate-support/ or to the Department of Veterans Affairs, https://www.cdceportal.va.gov/donate_online/.