Charles Davis Richards

Yesterday, Oct 17, 2019, I was casually conversing with the lady sitting beside me in Ellsworth's LLBean Discount store. We discovered were coastal neighbors: I live summers in Milbridge and she on Beal's--"actually Great Wass." The name Chuck Richards puzzled her until I mentioned "moss gardens." She then more or less exploded about their loveliness, peace, how she thought he should have put a little donation cup somewhere: "just so we could have thanked him." I didn't have time to say...

I stopped by Chuck's home on Great Wass last Friday September 7, 2018 and found everything grown over. He was a friend and mentor and just a great man.

I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to know Chuck Richards and spend time with him talking about gardening. He was a passionate gardener. He nurtured and cherished his little bit of paradise on Great Wass Island. All who had the good fortune to visit him were inspired.

Am so sorry to know that we can no longer visit him and his garden each summer. He was generous with his time and his knowledge.
Ralph Cleale, Limington, ME

Sincere condolences to all the family and friends of this gracious, energetic man. In spite of both being at UMaine in the '50's and both having summer cottages nearby on the coast we did not meet until his grandson, Evan, and my granddaughter Teresa, decided to marry. I treasure the memory of our friendship.

What an accomplished man with such a lovely family. Our sincere sympathies for your loss.

To Dr. Richards' Family: Our last visit with Chuck in April was very meaningful and comfortable. The many visits to his natural garden and arboretum demonstrated his love of the botanical world. I served as an undergraduate and graduate student assistant with him in the 50's at UMO. His teaching and guidance propelled me into the botanical and wildlife sciences for life. I hope that his flower and moss garden on Great Wass Island will become a research/study site with The Univ.of Maine. ...

He sounds like an incredible man who lived an incredible life. Our deepest sympathies to the family.

A great professor and gentleman. Dr. Richards was the first person to greet and welcome me to Deering Hall as a freshman in 1973 as I looked to figure out my academic direction. He immediately made me feel welcomed, taking the time to sit down to talk with me about my
interests. I immediately knew I had found my major.
His classes were always engaging. In particular I enjoyed his Foraging class where we learned about all the plants on campus that were edible. Our end of semester...