Autobiography of Rick Atkinson.
My brothers wanted me to make sure I put my autobiography on this family tree web site.
I was a very large child, almost 11 pounds, and because I was so large, it was said that 
I had a “pointed head” and that my baby bonnet kept falling off.  My brothers think this 
is hilarious. Nana thought I was beautiful although my mother actually said to me and my 
brothers at a Wednesday nite poker game in Brant Rock-“Rick-you weren’t too cute!”
Until 6 years old we all lived with Nana and Pa Atkinson at 7 Maple Terrace, in the Waverley 
section of Belmont.  
Kindergarten was spent in the Daniel Butler School right across from Nanas. In 1951 we moved 
to 24 Pine Street Belmont and I went to the Winthrop L. Chenery School though the 6th grade, 
Belmont Jr High through the 9th grade and Belmont High through the 12th grade.  I happened 
to excel as a student and never got a mark below an A.
I went to Northeastern University from 1962 till 1967 on the Co-Op program, was stubborn 
enough to pay my own tuition, and graduated with BS in Business Administration with a minor 
in economics.
I was in the Army National Guard in the 26th Yankee Division, Finance Company from 1967-1973 
and was discharged as a Sergeant First Class E-7.  
Our motto was "We won't fight cause you can't make us or find us.”
I worked for Star Market from 1962 to 1984, starting as a mail boy, worked in all store departments, 
was Seafood-Deli Merchandiser, General Manager of the Bakery and director of In Store Bakeries.
I graduated form the American Institute of Baking in 1975 and earned title of Master Baker, 
one of only 250 Master Bakers ranked nationally in the US at the time.
I worked at Dunkin Donuts from 1984 to 1995 and became Director of Product Development and 
Quality Control. 
I was downsized and went back to school and studied Computers and Networking and worked for 
a while as a Computer Consultant.  After the Dot.com bust, I became a Real Estate Agent in 
1999 to handle the sale of my mother's Brant Rock house and worked for several years as an agent. 
I am now officially retired.
Although I was brought up in Belmont, I always consider that my youth was forged in Brant Rock.  
I still have Brant Rock friends who met their spouses there and we try to get together at 
least yearly. The most important thing about Brant Rock is that I met my wife Paula Benoit 
there June 30, 1956, early one evening walking on the beach.  We were married Feb 11, 1969, 
have two daughters Laura and Shae and a grandson Zachary.