Published by Legacy Remembers on Jul. 22, 2023.
Richard Alan "Dick" Dow
August 31, 1941-March 5, 2023
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
-1 Corinthians 15:26
Richard Alan "Dick" Dow died peacefully on March 5, 2023 at Venice Health and Rehabilitation in
Venice, Florida. Dick was born on August 31,1941 in
Worcester, Massachusetts the oldest son of Harry and Winifred Dow (nee Pope). He grew up in Northborough where he was active in Boy Scouts, as an acolyte at his church and, along with his brother Norman, sang in the men and boys choir at All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester. Dick's father built a cottage on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire and Dick spent many happy summers there that included playing guitar on the Mt. Sunapee and at The Barn where legendary rock band Aerosmith would later meet and play. Dick attended Northborough High School until he won a scholarship to the prestigious Lennox School for Boys in Massachusetts. High school pursuits included football, fencing, sailing, theater and music. After graduating from Lennox, Dick went on to Colgate University and then Clark University where he graduated with a B.A. (Honors) in English. Dick entered the U.S. Navy's Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1964. He was a Communications Officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade and served tours in both Vietnam and South America until his discharge in 1967.
During his career, Dick worked in a variety of fields including Chief of Information and Public Relations for the Rhode Island Development Council (during which time he also assisted with PR for the Governor's Office), Executive Director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission and as Executive Editor of "Man at Arms"magazine. In 1985 he started his own business as a freelance technical writer and editor in Rhode Island and then for ten years in
Palm Bay, Florida. While in Florida Dick also served as a volunteer EMT for the Harbor City Volunteer Ambulance Squad. He returned to Rhode Island in 1996 and then moved to
Laconia, New Hampshire in 1998. In 2001 he took a part-time seasonal position with U.S. Forest Service in the Pemigewasset Ranger District, White Mountain National Forest. The position transitioned into a full-time post in the Supervisor's Office working as a writer/editor on the forest plan, editing the district website and overseeing the fleet of service vehicles. At age 60 Dick had come full circle, fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a forest ranger. He retired from the Forest Service in 2011. After retirement, Dick stayed active enjoying time with family and friends, serving as a volunteer and, later, Deputy Chief of Administration and Dispatch of the Lakes Region (NH) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and becoming an amateur HAM radio operator. A stroke in 2016 brought him back to Florida, first Melbourne and then Venice.
Dick's love of music, singing and playing guitar, continued through his life. He performed solo and in bands, church music groups and as a tenor dummer in the Rhode Island Highlanders Pipe Band. A deeply faithful man, Dick was active for much of his life in the Episcopal Church in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida and New Hampshire including serving as a vestry member, singing in choirs and leading music ministry. He was also involved with the St. Michael's Conference and Cursillo.
Dick is survived by his two daughters with his first wife Patricia (n?e Wilkinson): Jody Mahaffey (husband Ed) and Robin Kimzey (husband Kevin) and his two daughters The Reverend Meghan Farr (husband Daniel) and Katherine Dow with his second wife Constance (n?e Quirk); Eight grandchildren: Kaitlyn Kimzey (fianc? Brian Burrell), Reed Kimzey (wife Alina), Grace Kimzey, Alexa (n?e Mahaffey) Rogers (husband Jacob), Dylan Mahaffey, Aidan Farr, Declan Farr and Cavan Farr; and one great grandson Jarrett Rogers. Dick was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brothers Norman and Lawrence.
A burial service will be held on August 5, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Lakeside Cemetery in
Newbury, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a Hospice of your choice.