Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors is happy to usher in 2024 by introducing you to Bill and Marie Richards. The Richards love to call Newtown Square home in the Florida Park neighborhood that stands the test of time, not just in years but for generations of Marie’s family.
Many of our friends and neighbors recognize Marie as Newtown Township’s Tax Collector – a position she has held for the past 24 years. What you may not know about her is that she is a lifelong Newtown Square resident who lives on the same parcel of land as her childhood home. “My father drove for The Red Arrow Lines of the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company back in the 1950s, which had him traveling from 69th Street in Upper Darby to West Chester every day,” she explained. “We moved to Florida Park when I was two years old, and I have been here ever since.”
Marie said that she, her parents and her brother, Joe lived in a modest ranch home on three acres of land. “At the time, Newtown Township was horse country,” she explained. “Being a horse lover from an early age, my dad converted a detached garage on the property into a barn and stable, so I was able to have my own horse right outside my back door.” Marie attended St. Anastasia Grade School and graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School.
“I wasn’t involved in extracurricular activities in school because my life revolved around working at various jobs and caring for and riding my horse.”
Marie said that her interest in finance and tax collecting began when she was offered an inheritance tax clerk opportunity for Delaware County. While there, she gained the experience and knowledge she needed to seek the position of Tax Collector for Newtown Township. Marie was appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy in 1999 and has successfully been elected for every term since. “I have always been civic-minded,” Marie said. “I was a member of the Newtown Square Rotary Club for 12 years and served as their treasurer and then President in 2012.”
In addition, Marie has served as the treasurer for the Newtown Square PA Railroad Museum Association since 2012. “The museum is such a treasured piece of history in Drexel Lodge Park,” Marie said. “Together with the Newtown Square Historical Society, we have worked hard to raise the funds necessary to build the museum – which includes the original Red Arrow trolley that ran through Newtown Square in the 1940s and early 1950s, a 1902 passenger car, 1907 box car, 1950 caboose and a steam engine.
Marie’s husband, Bill, grew up in Clifton Heights with his parents and his brother Bob. He went to Primos Elementary School in Secane and graduated from Upper Darby High School, where he played soccer, baseball and basketball. After graduation, Bill started working as an apprentice for Joe Segal, the founder of the Franklin Mint. “I began working for Joe out of his garage, then transitioned over to the Franklin Mint when it opened in 1967,” Bill said. “I was a spray etch engraver, which means I would take a large epoxy template of a coin and reduce it down to its actual size.”
Bill explained that at the same time the mint opened, the Vietnam War and the draft were underway. “I decided to enlist in the Army Reserves,” he said. “I served from 1967 until 1973.” While Bill enjoyed working at the Franklin Mint for 35 years and planned to retire there, it closed its doors in 2002. “After the mint closed, I became a serviceman for Suburban Propane until my retirement in 2022,” he said.
So how does a guy from Clifton Heights meet a girl from Newtown Square back in the ’70s? It’s got to be a Delco thing, right? “Bill’s parents were good friends with my best friend, Peg’s parents,” Marie explained. “Peg and her family lived in the Newtown Heights section of Newtown Square, and I spent a lot of time at her house.” Marie said that she and Bill spent time together as teenagers but didn’t start dating until she graduated high school. “On our first date, Marie and I went to watch horse races at a track on Rt. 202 then had dinner at the Greenhill Diner, which is now Hill’s Seafood,” Bill recalled. “We hit it off and dated for about one year before we were engaged and got married not long after.”
Marie and Bill married at St. Anastasia and celebrated their nuptials with family and friends at The Knights of Columbus in Newtown Square. They honeymooned in Miami, FL, and settled down in a duplex in Lansdowne for a few months before making the move to Newtown Square. “At the time, my parents were looking to sell their property, so Bill and I decided to buy it from them,” Marie said. They purchased the three-acre parcel, moved into the ranch home, built a pool and started their family.
“We raised our four children here and have wonderful memories of them growing up,” Bill said. Marie added, “Florida Park really is a hidden gem. Over the years, countless activities and lifelong friendships have been formed.” She described a time when there was a Community Hall Association where Marie served on the Board. They had holiday parties, 4th of July picnics, pancake breakfasts and bake sales. “It was an amazing and unique experience for our kids,” Marie said. “They grew up swimming in our pool, fishing in the neighborhood creek, building bonfires and sledding on the steepest hills.”
Bill said that after their youngest child was born, he and Marie decided to build a larger home to accommodate their growing family. “The land had already been subdivided when we purchased it from Marie’s parents,” he explained. “We sold the ranch home and built a large two-story colonial towards the back of the lot.” These days, Bill and Marie spend a lot of time enjoying their home and their quiet, peaceful backyard. They both enjoy gardening and relaxing on their deck that overlooks the creek and open space.
When they’re not enjoying their time at home, Marie and Bill like to travel. They regularly visit their daughter in Florida and look forward to traveling a bit more in the coming years. They recently returned from a memorable trip to Harrisburg to witness and celebrate the installation of Marie’s cousin, His Excellency the Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, as the Twelfth Bishop of Harrisburg. “That was such a meaningful, wonderful trip,” Marie remarked.
Marie and Bill’s kids are all grown now but agree that they had the best childhood, and now they enjoy coming back to the neighborhood to spend quality family time together. Their oldest daughter, Stacey, currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida, but has recently decided to head north to spend a few months back home this winter. Their second daughter, Jill, lives about 45 minutes away on a five-acre farm in Sewell, NJ, with her husband, Chris, and their eight children. Bill and Marie’s third daughter, Kimberly, lives nearby in Newtown Square with her two daughters, and their youngest, Michael, a Marine veteran, lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Margo. “We’re fortunate to be able to spend so much time with our kids and grandchildren,” Marie said. “We enjoy and value our time together.”
Thank you, Marie and Bill, for sharing your story with our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors. We wish you all the best in 2024 and hope your year is full of happiness, health and many more meaningful memories.
Do you know a Newtown Square family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.