Richard M. Gale

1938 - 2025

Richard M. Gale died on February 23, 2025 in Louisville, CO. He was born on September 16, 1938, in Brattleboro, VT, the elder son of Richard E. Gale and Florence M. Gale. He is survived by his wife, Judith Schrom; his three sons, Ted and his wife Martha; Jon; Andrew and his wife Tara; and by his two stepsons, Benjamin Schrom and his wife Poppy, and Will Schrom and his wife Jacky. He is also survived by his brother, Edwin and his sister-in-law, Mary Beth, and eight grandchildren.

Mr. Gale graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1956 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After six months of active military duty at Fort Dix, NJ (followed by five and one-half years reserve duty with the 103rd Engineering Battalion, Pennsylvania National Guard), he was employed at the home office of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company and, subsequently, at the Insurance Company of North America. During Mr. Gale's final four years at INA he attended the night program at Temple University's law school, earning his law degree (J.D.) in 1971. Immediately thereafter, he returned to Brattleboro with his family, where he joined his father in the practice of law. He retired from his firm (then known as Gale, Corum, Mabie & Cook) at the end of 2003. His competence, dedication, and warm and friendly nature was grandly celebrated in a memorable retirement party attended by many of his colleagues at the bar, and other members of the community he had devoted his professional life to. He then enjoyed two and a half years of retirement during which he participated in one of his great passions, saltwater sailing. He then returned to the law he loved and served the Vermont judicial system as Probate Register in Brattleboro until his final retirement in June 2013.

The following year, Richard and Judith moved west to be nearer sons and grandchildren in Colorado and California. For over 10 years, they visited the natural wonders of that part of the world, hiked the many trails, and delighted in the prairie dogs in their backyard.

Mr. Gale also loved the English language, literature and theatre. As an amateur actor, he appeared in over thirty local Brattleboro productions, beginning with a production of Royal Tyler's "The Contrast" in 1976, staged to commemorate the American bicentennial that year.

Dick Gale was steady, selfless, and endlessly curious. He had a great capacity for friendship and thoroughly enjoyed many aspects of his long and productive life.

Memorial contributions in Richard's name may be made to the Windham County Humane Society ( PO Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302) or Colorado Public Radio ( PO Box 17429, Denver, CO 80217).

A memorial service will take place in the cemetery of Christ Church in Guilford, VT, in August.