Age 48. 107 Ocean Street, Dorchester (Boston), MA. Born 12/13/1893, in Boston. Died of burns (death certificate). Assistant assessor, City of Boston. Was also an insurance broker. His wife Katherine, age 42, also perished. His remains were transported to Northern Mortuary, Boston. Was raised in Boston. Married in 1927, in Boston. Was living with his wife in Boston as of 1936 street listings (same two occupations as above). Made news in July 1941 when he narrowly cheated fate: "Losing control of his automobile when stricken with a heart attack driving on Soldiers Field road, Brighton [MA], yesterday, Richard F. Pierce...first assistant assessor of Boston, was rescued from drowning in the Charles River after his car plunged over an embankment and landed in 25 feet of water near Western avenue" (The Boston Herald, 7/17/1941). Was saved by a passing patrolman who swam fully-clothed to his unconscious body. Couple was survived by four orphaned children, Margaret, age 14, Mary, age 10, Richard F., Jr., age 4, and Katherine, age 1. With his wife were two of 38 Grove victims from the Dorchester "neighborhood" of Boston, twice the loss of any other Hub district (Brighton was next with 19 dead). With his wife was one of 56 married couples present in which both partners perished. Late parents Mr. and Mrs. Richard, Sr., and Johanna M. (Kelly) Pierce. Burial with his victim wife at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, MA. The couple were two of 16 casualties buried at the above resting grounds, the fifth-greatest final resting spot for all Grove deaths (of 490) and second-most interments at any single site outside Boston proper (after Fuller Street collective Jewish cemeteries, Everett, MA, with 18 dead). Middle name Francis.

‍