OBITUARY: Diane James Richard, 79

Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:

WILMINGTON, MA — Diane James Richard died on August 5, 2024, at home in Wilmington, MA. Her passing was unexpected and peaceful.

Diane was born October 16, 1944 in Peabody, MA to Helen Mary (Peterson) James and Herbert John James. She lived her early adult years in Salem, MA. Diane was educated at Salem High School, Marietta College in Ohio and Cornell University where she received a full fellowship for her graduate studies. At Marietta and Cornell Diane was a counselor to undergraduates, a position she enjoyed.

Her early employment experience included the management and organization of Health Care Organizations in Massachusetts including the drafting of legislation regarding these activities. More recently she partnered with her husband in the formation of a successful medical device company that developed surgical implant products primarily for the eye. She traveled extensively for the Company to Europe and Japan working with physicians and regulatory agencies to obtain marketing approvals.

During the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Diane spent a considerable amount of time working with organizations throughout the country, including the FDA, to make available one of the Company’s implant products effective in enabling useful vision in HIV/AIDS patients with a virus that caused severe vision loss. As a result of these efforts many infected patients treated. Long after a drug was developed to treat this virus HIV/AIDS patients continued to express their gratitude to Diane for her work in providing an early intervention to this disease complication.

Locally Diane enjoyed doing voluntary work on a Lahey Hospital Advisory Board and the Wilmington Book Store from which she provided her young nieces and nephews with books.

Diane leaves her husband Wayne Richard, stepdaughter Allison Richard, Boulder, CO; siblings Herbert James, Lynnfield, MA; Andrea Ketschke, Haverhill, MA.; Stephanie Budd, Lynnfield. MA and nieces Alexa, Sarah, Gabrielle, Alexandra; and nephews Benjamin, Matthew, Mark. Pierce, and J James all of whom she was quite proud and close to.

There will be no showing or services. Those who wish to make a donation in Diane’s memory please make it to Doctor’s Without Borders, https://donate.doctorswithourborders.org/

Arrangements are under the direction of the Nichols Funeral Home, Wilmington, MA; to leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.