Richard P. Waltz Sr.

Richard P. Waltz Sr., 95 PORTLAND -- Richard P. Waltz Sr., 95, of Portland, an icon of the Portland business scene for decades and a representative of a generation of independent entrepreneurs, died on Saturday, May 30, 2009, at home with his loving family by his side. He was born on Sept. 13, 1913, on Clark Street, Portland, one of five sons of William Wilmont and Lottie (Curtis) Waltz. His father ran a grocery store and boarding house in Portland. The family later moved to South Portland and he attended local schools, Scarborough High School and the New England Conservatory of Music. While in high school, he excelled in track. In the summer his family moved to their farm in Scarborough. As a young boy during difficult economic times, he dug clams and sold them door to door. In the winter, he and his brothers would cut firewood with a bucksaw and haul it with their father's ox team across a frozen Casco Bay to island customers. At the young age of five he started playing the piano. His mother recognized that he needed a teacher and literally spent the 'egg money' to pay for lessons. By the age of 12 he had studied with all the best local pianists and began lessons with Dr. Arthur Brinkler, the organist of the Kotchmar Organ at Portland City Hall. Brinkler took him to Boston where he completed his classical training. Although he enjoyed opera and the classics, his real passion was jazz. He played in big bands in Boston and New York, and on the B. F. Keith vaudeville circuit and continued to 'sit in' with musicians whenever he had the opportunity. In the mid-1930s he began working part time in the plumbing business, eventually building his own business and became self-employed. That was interrupted by World War II. In 1942 he married Phyllis Allen. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army and served three years in the European Theater, much of the time behind enemy lines. He was a Platoon Sergeant in the Reconnaissance Division of the 216th Armored Engineer Battalion, 4th Armored Division under General Patton. After his discharge he returned home to see his son for the first time and to rebuild his business. With the help of his wife, Richard P. Waltz Plumbing and Heating was created. Today the business is run by his family including his son and grandson. Always active in industry organizations, he often served as an officer or committee member of the Maine State Association of Plumbing Contractors, National Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors (1975 Contractor of the Year) Cumberland County Association of Plumbing Contractors, New England Council of Plumbing Contractors, the State of Maine Legislative Committee on Plumbing and the Governor's Safety Council. He served as Chairman of the Plumbing Code Committee of the City of Portland, to revise codes, Portland Board of Standards, Chair of the City Manager's Committee to interview and approve the plumbing inspector, he was a member of the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Oil Heat Council, Southern Maine Oil Heat Council and National Association of Home Builders. Richard P. Waltz Sr. Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home & Cremation Service 775-3763 When, in his early 20s, he joined the Merchant Marine, he realized his love for the ocean. His first boat was a 16 ft. skiff he and his son built in the living room at camp. In the 1950s, he and his wife joined the Portland Yacht Club and the United States Power Squadron. Over the years they owned a series of yachts. For years the family cruised up and down the coast of New England and Canada. After he retired they designed and had built a 55 ft. ocean-going yacht, Ju-Don-Di IV and spent three months a year in Hawaii for 16 years. From there they took trips to places such as Tahiti, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. For seven years they lived on the yacht and traveled throughout the Bahamas, South America, Trinidad and Panama. In the 1970s they toured Europe and North Africa for two years. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, and at one time conducted and directed the Kora Shrine Oriental Band. A long-time member of the Portland Yacht Club, in the 1960s he was instructor of navigation courses and won several awards for outstanding navigation. He was a member of the Merchant Wharf Chowder, Organ and Marching Society in Portland. A supporter of youth sports, he was the first sponsor of Little League #7 in East Deering. He originated and sponsored the first Babe Ruth League in East Deering and was responsible for building the Little League and Babe Ruth fields there, donating all plumbing and facilitating others to contribute to the project. In 1964 when the Little League team he sponsored won the City of Portland championship, he chartered a bus and sent the whole team and their coaches on an all-expense aid trip to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston. For many years he was a strong supporter of the Deering High School band and served as president of the Band Parents Club and the PTA. He had a wonderful sense of humor, was a voracious reader (especially of the classics) and delighted his family and friends with stories from his unique, event-filled life. He was utterly devoted to his children and their well-being, right up until the day of his passing. His beloved wife predeceased him on Oct. 29, 2008. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Wilmont, twins Maynard and Milton, and Lawrence. He is survived by his children, Donna Collier of California, Richard Jr. and his wife Martha Luce Waltz of Portland and Judith and her husband Dennis Cellamare of Windham; many grandchildren including Jennifer Waltz and Richard P. Waltz III of Portland; great-grandchildren; great-great- grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be Thursday, June 4, 2009, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Funeral services will be Friday 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 678 Washington Ave., Portland. Interment with military honors will be in Pine Grove Cemetery Falmouth.