Harrington, Maine - Richard M. Meserve Sr. passed away peacefully at his home on April 24, 2025, three weeks after reaching the milestone of his 100th birthday. Dick was born on March 31, 1925, in Portland, ME, the fifth of seven children of Raymond M. and Ruth K. Meserve. He was a child of the Great Depression, and the very difficult times endured by his family and the whole nation during those years left a lifelong impression of the importance of being frugal and appreciating what you had.

Dick graduated from Deering High School in mid-June of 1943 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 9, 1943, under the Aviation Cadet Program. The next 14 months were spent in training to become a navigator. In September 1944 he received his navigator's wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Lucera, Italy, where he flew twenty-two missions as a navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress in the 15th Air Force.

After the war, Dick attended the University of Maine in Orono on the GI Bill and earned his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. This was where he met the love of his life, Joan Frye, a real DownEast girl from "blueberry country." They were married on Sept. 5, 1948, and enjoyed 71 years of marriage, raising five children, before Joan passed away from cancer in 2019.

After college, Dick spent several years working as an engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Connecticut. He and Joan returned to Maine in 1956 upon the death of Joan's father George W. Frye, settling in Joan's hometown of Harrington. At first he managed the family business, Frye Realty. Later he became the plant manager of Jasper Wyman's sardine business, and eventually was plant manager for Wyman's Cherryfield operation for 10 years. He transitioned into hospital administration, working at Down East Community Hospital in Machias for over sixteen years, before retiring in 1987.

Dick served on the Harrington School Board for several years, and the Maine School Board Association. He was president of the Milbridge/Cherryfield Rotary Club and is a past Master of Tuscan Lodge #106 of Addison. He was also active in his local United Methodist church, as well as the Masons and the Anah Temple Shriners, who recently recognized Dick's 72 years of membership. At the time of his passing, Dick was also the holder of Harrington's Boston Cane award, given to the oldest resident in town.

Dick had a lifelong love of music, especially big band, jazz, and blues. He was lucky enough to see many of the biggest stars perform live at the Old Orchard Pier in the 1940's. His children and grandchildren loved to see Dick and Joan dance together. They had a rhythm and smoothness that spoke of decades of partnership. After retirement, Dick and Joan split their time between Maine and the Country Meadows retirement community in Plant City, FL, where they made many wonderful friends and created lifelong memories on and off the golf course. During summers in Maine, Dick's favorite place to be was at his cottage on the Harrington River.

Dick is survived by his five children, Susan Driscoll of Bethel, CT, Richard Meserve Jr. (Susan) of Harrington, ME, Sandi Leackfeldt (Stephen) of Harrington, ME, Cathy McGaffin (Don) of South Portland, ME, and Michael Meserve (Sarah) of Harrington, ME. In addition to his children, Dick leaves behind 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, who will greatly miss him at our annual family reunions at the cottage. Dick is also survived by his brother, Robert Meserve of Kennebunk; and sister, Ruth K. Keene of Auburn. Dick was predeceased by his wife, Joan; father, Raymond; mother, Ruth; sisters, Pauline Goodeson (Ron), Mary Dunn (Ray), Olive Allen (Wallace); and brother, Raymond Meserve Jr. (Virginia).

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, 2025, followed by light refreshments in the church vestry of Faith United Methodist Church, 444 US RTE 1, Columbia, ME 04623. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick's memory may be sent to: George W. Frye Scholarship Fund, Maine Community Foundation, 245 Main St. Ellsworth, ME 04605, and Faith United Methodist Church,

P.O. Box 186, Columbia, ME 04623.