The Rev. Richard E. Olson died on Dec. 15 at Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading.

Richard was born in 1932 in Worcester to the Rev. Bror O. B. Olson and Anna Mattson Olson, both of whom had come as children to the United States from Sweden.

After graduating from Southside High School in Elmira, N.Y., he received his bachelor’s degree from Upsala College in East Orange, N.J. In 1957, he received the master of divinity degree from Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Ill.

That same year, he was ordained as a pastor of the Augustana Lutheran Church. In 37 years of active ministry, he served St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Abington, Mass.; Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven, Conn.; Lutheran Campus Ministry at Yale University; Faith Lutheran Church, Cambridge, Mass.; Lutheran Social Services of New England; Administrator of the Lutheran Home of Worcester; Concordia Lutheran Church, Worcester; Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Edgartown.

Richard was always very curious. He was an avid book collector and reader. He never stopped learning with a particular focus on Christianity, Judaism and philosophy. Being a print sports writer was his teenage dream. He followed the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots until the end of his life, watching TV sports with the sound off and reading a book at the same time.

Throughout his life, he valued and stayed connected with his friends from Upsala College and the Augustana Seminary. He was also a devoted pet “father” to many dogs including Gromit and Danni Doggowitz, and he was a good friend to Martha’s Vineyard backyard birds.

The silent prayers that he recited daily included a long list that covered what and to whom he was grateful: the variety of opportunities that he was offered in his work life, those who had mentored him, the variety of places he lived, the years in his post & beam houses on the Island he loved, Martha’s Vineyard.

He was especially grateful for all the members of his family, past and present. He proudly wore a T-shirt that said “you can’t scare me, I have three daughters.”

He was a soft-spoken, excellent listener who had a subtle sense of humor. Beneath his gentle manner, he had great inner strength that was a blend of conviction, determination and rectitude.

His community involvements included board chairman of the Somerville-Cambridge Home Care Corporation, vice-chairman of the Worcester Commission on Elder Affairs, board chairman of the Vineyard Nursing Association and delivering Meals on Wheels on Martha’s Vineyard.

He was predeceased by his wife of 29 years, Judith Freiman Olson, of Edgartown; his first wife of 21 years, Jane C. Olson; and his brother Donald.

He is survived by three daughters: Deborah J. Judd and her husband, John, of Arlington; Lisa M. Fitzgibbons and her husband, Dennis, of Yarmouth, Maine; and Rebecca S. Olson of Cambridge; and three grandchildren: John Judd IV, his wife, Shelby, and their son, John; Andrew Fitzgibbons, Kelsey Fitzgibbons, her partner, Jack Sidar, and their daughter, Rangely.

He is also survived by his domestic partner of 15 years, Marie Ariel, of Cambridge.

The service of committal will be held in the New Westside Cemetery, Edgartown at a later date.

Donations can be made in Richard’s name to: Faith Kitchen, P.O. Box 390419, Cambridge MA 02139 or at faithkitchen.org.