Richard Arsham Alemian

Richard A. Alemian, MD

December 5, 1933 – March 10, 2024

Richard A. Alemian, MD, age 90 son of Arsham Alemian, MD and Agnes Alemian, passed away peacefully at South Shore Hospital on March 10, 2024 after a short illness. His wife, Kimberlee, was by his side and his daughters, Lauren and Jennifer, and families visited every day. The Hospital was essentially a second home to him. He began his private practice in orthopedic surgery in January 1968 and his affiliation with the hospital started in July of that year. During his tenure there, he was elected to a two year appointment as Medical Staff President in 1987 and later became Director of Medical Education—retiring in 2018.

He was proud of bringing arthroscopic surgery to South Shore Hospital in the late 1970’s. Part of the joy in his practice was spending time with patients and conversing with his peers and staff members. A social being, he would rather drive to a venue than call because he loved to connect with people.

He was most proud of his service in the US Army as Chief of orthopedic surgery at Ireland Army Hospital, Fort Knox, KY. He started serving in January 1966 during the Vietnam War performing reconstructive surgery on the wounded soldiers. Here in his own words, “My most rewarding professional work was the 2 years in the Army with all those young men with horrendous combat battle wounds. I never worked so hard.” For his outstanding performance of duty he received the Army Commendation Medal and citation. He was honorably discharged in December 1967.

He graduated from Harvard College in 1955 and Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1960. His internship took place at Rochester General Hospital in New York and included an additional year of general surgery residency. He also had residencies at Boston V. A. Hospital and Tufts/Boston V. A. Hospital finishing up December 31, 1965.

He demonstrated leadership skills early in High School as Vice President of his class and President of the Student Council. He was voted Best School Citizen and under “The Perfect Senior” category he was noted for his “Dependability.”

He was a man of many interests, but one of his star achievements was playing football for the “Maroon and Gold” at Weymouth High School. Richard was an outstanding player, an all-scholastic left halfback that spearheaded the 1950 undefeated class “A” State Championship team. They defeated the Florida state high school champion, Landon High, in the Gator Bowl. Richard gained over 1,000 yards rushing and lead the team in scoring with 72 points. He was inducted into the Weymouth High Schools Athletic Hall of Fame on May 11, 2002. He attended his 70th High School Reunion in September 2021.

A competitive sportsman, he played and won championships in golf at the Cohasset Golf Club and starting in 1991, had a special “Tournament” with good friend Paul Duggan, MD. The two of them would keep score over the course of a year and then have a Trophy engraved with the winner of the season. They did this for 21 years. Richard also loved tennis, ping pong, sailing, and boating. Poker, chess and backgammon were board games he enjoyed. For years he and his wife had fiercely competitive and fun games of backgammon. He often played pool with his brother Bruce, and deeply enjoyed these outings, especially in recent years. Over the years he enjoyed spending meaningful vacations with his daughters, Lauren and Jennifer, and their families.

Richard garnered an early interest, at age 5, in photography, from the time his father would show moving pictures in their living room with classical music playing on the phonograph in the background. During his late grammar school years, his eyes were opened to still photography by an older cousin who had a darkroom. “It was a fascinating experience, standing next to him in his home darkroom watching an image come to life in those pans of liquid.”

His mother eventually bought him an Argus 21 camera when he entered high school. He has had a camera in hand ever since. Richard had an innate eye for color, texture and design. His early subjects were of family, and branched out to include landscapes and seascapes. Richard became a Gallery Artist at South Shore Art Center, won numerous prizes and had highly successful exhibitions. He loved to travel as is reflected in his photography of Martha’s Vineyard, France, Italy, Eastern Europe and Germany. 

What many didn’t know is that he was also a very good draftsman and watercolorist. Working from life, his simplification of objects and design of the page were exceptional.

Early on, Richard was a member of the Wine and Food Society of Boston and learned to appreciate wines and even engaged in cooking lessons.

His parents nurtured in him an appreciation of opera and music and he played the piano.

He lived life to the fullest, family was always first. He was a kind, thoughtful and considerate human being, as gentle as he was powerful.

Richard was a devoted husband for 43 years to his beloved wife Kimberlee, and a loving father to his daughter Lauren Saleski and her husband Steve and daughter Jennifer Kinscherf and her husband Robert. He was a loving grandfather to Katherine, Kristin and Michael Saleski and Carly and Richard Kinscherf. He was a loving brother to Bruce Alemian, his wife Claire and his sister Diana Ferman.

Family and friends are invited to a service at McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home-1 Summer Street, Cohasset, MA on Saturday, March 30, 2024:

Visitation: 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Memorial Service: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Remembrances in his memory may be made to South Shore Health Foundation.

Gifts can be made (tax-deductible) via credit card online at SouthShoreHealth.org/Give, by phone at 781-624-8600, or mail to South Shore Health Foundation, 55 Fogg Road, S. Weymouth, MA 02190.

Please visit www.mcnamara-sparrell.com for guestbook and directions.

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