Richard Paul "Dickie" Cruz, 86, of Dorchester, formerly of Wareham, died March 1, 2010 at home. He was the husband of Stella (Fonseca) Cruz and the son of the late John B. Cruz, Sr. and Caroline (Pina) Cruz.  He was born in Wareham and lived in Dorchester for many years.

Mr. Cruz was an Army Veteran of WWII, serving in the American Theater, Asiatic Pacific Theater, & European African Middle Eastern Theater.

Mr. Cruz founded the Pasadena Construction Company and served as its chief executive officer. He later worked as supervisor for his brother's construction firm, John B. Cruz Construction Company, in Boston.  He also owned and operated "Rocky Manor," a jazz club in Wareham, for many years and later developed townhouses on that property.

He was a member of the Dudley L. Brown V.F.W. Post 2846 in Onset, Youth Build Boston, and the Contractors Association of Boston.

Mr. Cruz spent many summers on Martha's Vineyard. His personal mantra was "love for family and live life to the fullest."

Survivors include his wife Stella (Fonseca) Cruz; his daughter,Cheryl A. Cruz Middleton and her husband William, of Altadena, CA; two granddaughters, Brandy Middleton and Megan Middleton, both of Altadena, CA; sister-in-law Tina Fonseca, of New Bedford; niece Marlene Sterling, of Melbourne, FL; his siblings Winifred Holford and Daniel "Sonny" Cruz, of Boston, Wilford "Fifi" Cruz, of Washington, D.C., Walter B. Cruz, Sr., of Wareham, and Andrea Rose, of Mattapoisett; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many loving friends. He was the brother of the late Doris Vincent, Harold Cruz, Walter Cruz (the eldest), John "Bertie" Cruz, Jr., Priscilla Martin, Bertha May, Thelma Franklin, Gerald Pina, and Geraldine Pina.

His funeral will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2010 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., (Rte.28), Wareham, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, Onset. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Wareham. Visiting hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. For directions and online guestbook, visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.