Eight Bells: Dick Bioty

Richard Anthony Bioty, 69, died Monday, March 9 at the Brentwood Nursing Home in Warwick, RI.

Dick was a legend in his own mind. Dick had a full and wonderful life and enjoyed and excelled at everything he undertook. Growing up in Rutland, Vermont, Dick enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father, brother and cousins. Dick was skiing Killington when all they had was a rope pull to get up the mountain. Dick quickly became an active and agile skier, landing a place as an alternate on the US Ski jumping team.

Dick was considered the “Mayor of Killington” where he garnered many, many friends throughout the years. Dick also raced SEC cars and was a backup driver for Dan Gurney. He loved his corvettes and collected many in his younger years.

Dick’s final love was sailing. His Beneteau 42 “Panama Red” was well known throughout Narragansett Bay as a fast boat with the best and most fun loving crew. Certainly this was because of its great captain. Dick had an uncanny way of putting together the most eclectic crew that quickly became his loving Rhode Island family.

Dick raced Panama Red twice to Bermuda and in 1993 won his class in the Marion Bermuda race. While in Bermuda, Dick and his wife Becky were married just before receiving their trophies for an outstanding performance! Dick and his boat, Panama Red, were famous throughout the New England area.

Dick was the consummate Corinthian Yachtsman capable of doing anything himself in the handling of his boat and its upkeep. He was very competitive yet honorable and a gentlemen to sail with and against. Dick found his daily work or job was a necessary evil to be able to fund sailing as his complete adventure, which made him whole.

Dick’s other love were his animals. His dog Jesse and Rocky were his constant companions, and he loved them with all his heart. Dick wasn’t a cat lover, but Fruitcakes, Jib, and Genoa changed his mind about cats forever.

Dick suffered many illnesses throughout his life but always kept his great sense of humor through it all. After numerous heart attacks, strokes, hip replacement, and heart transplant, Dick still remained positive and happy. He was famous for his jokes, his stories and his happy and loving attitude wherever he went. Dick’s life was extended when he received a new heart in September of 2012. Without that transplant, this would have been written a long time before now. Someone gave Dick a second chance, another opportunity to tell more stories, hug more people and insure we all had more happy memories of him.

Dick’s professional life included sales manager of such companies as Data Instruments, IBM and General Electric. His personality certainly benefitted him in these sales positions.

Dick was the son of the late John “Jack” Bioty and Antoinette (Cioffi) Bioty. He was preceded in death by his brother, Ralph Bioty. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Milton Bioty, his brother John Bioty and his wife Martha of Alexandria, VA, his daughter Christine Francis and her husband John and Dick’s daughter Andrea – all of Rutland, Vermont. Also surviving are his beloved grandchildren. Lauren Philips and Nicholas Francis of Rutland Vermont.

Dick will be remembered on March 29th at 4:00pm at the East Greenwich Yacht Club with a celebration of his life. We welcome everyone to come, enjoy the music, the stories and the love that Dick shared with everyone he knew. Hawaiian shirts are a must for the celebration.

Donations in Dick’s name can be made to MGH Cardiac Transplant Research Fund c/o Marc Semigran, Bigelow 800, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 or Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904.

Source: East Greenwich Yacht Club