Richard P Abato

Richard (Rich) Abato, 66, passed away Thursday 7/13/2023 after a brave battle with cancer, with his wife Melissa and sister Donna at his side.

Born in Brooklyn, NY he grew up on Long Island and upstate New York. After some time at community college and various jobs, he enlisted and served 6 years in the US Navy, mostly on the USS John F. Kennedy, as an aviation electronics technician.

He graduated from Clarkson University with a BS in Electrical Engineering, and started work at IBM in Burlington, Vermont. After working there a few years, he hosted an interviewee from Clarkson, who became the love of his life and wife 3 years later. They spent their years together traveling, enjoying life and sailing on their various sailboats as they moved to New Hampshire before settling in Maine.

Rich had many talents and interests outside of his job, including cooking, woodworking, pottery, photography, gardening, scuba diving and fixing almost anything. He loved trains, and anything mechanical, and visited every transportation museum he encountered, including many in Japan and Europe. Although early in life his Italian grandmothers feared he was too thin for not eating enough, he became quite the foodie who enjoyed great food at restaurants and learning new techniques and recipes for home. This was one of the reasons for settling near Portland.

Rich is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Melissa (Elmstrom) Abato, his sister Donna Millet and her husband Jim, their daughters Anna and Amy, and many cousins and in-laws. He is predeceased by his parents and aunts and uncles. He will be remembered for his kindness, gentle nature and sense of humor.

Rich was a lover of animals and always had a rescue animal or two in his life. He leaves a heartbroken beagle mix Rigger behind.

In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, PO Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098, or go to www.arlgp.org/memorial

A celebration of life is being planned.