Burton Hastings and Ruth Lillian Hastings
Within exactly 36 hours of each other, Burton Hastings and Ruth Lillian Hastings, married for seventy years, each died peacefully due to complications from recent strokes. Burton passed on September 21 in the care of a blessed personal care assistant Alexander Rodriguez while Mr. Rodriguez was reading the day’s newspaper to him. Ruth passed the following day, in the care of Orbito Felix. They were married when Burt returned from his years of service in World War II as a combat veteran, medic and interrogator in the Special Forces. They made a home together in New York City before relocating to Dartmouth, Massachusetts in 1966, raising a daughter, Judy Hastings and a son, David Hastings.
They are survived by Burt’s brother Julius, of Davis, California; their daughter, Judy Hastings and her husband Michael Ricciardi of Southold, NY son David Hastings and his wife Linda J. Vasconcellos of Andover, MA; granddaughters Zoe Vasconcellos Hastings, her husband Christopher Desjardins and their son-to-be of Lawrence, MA; Alia Vasconcellos Hayes, her husband Matthew Hayes and their daughter Julianna Bridget of Hampstead, NH; and Hannah Vasconcellos Hastings of Washington, DC. Burt willed his body to Harvard Medical School’s Anatomical Gift Program – being once again of service to his country, though this time for the education of future medical doctors. The family will hold a graveside service to celebrate the lives of Burt and Ruth on Sunday, October 2 at 10:00 am at the Children of Abraham Cemetery on 20 Grant Road in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Burt will be reunited with his wife of seventy years at their final resting place at a later date. Those gathering will be invited to share memories and thoughts with the family at a brunch to follow immediately afterwards.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Compassionate Care, 800 W Cummings Park #3100, Woburn, MA 01801, Phone:(781) 935-5550