Richard Penfield III

Richard Penfield III died on February 2, 2025 in Dowell, MD at the age of 76. He was born on June 26, 1948 in Stamford, CT to Richard Penfield Jr and Ruth Michael Penfield. He grew up in Stamford and was active in the Boy Scouts. When just 12 years old, Richard saved a little girl in his neighborhood from drowning. He was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America with a Certificate of Merit for his heroism. He graduated from Rippowam High School in Stamford, CT, Class of 1967. In recent years, Richard was very involved in locating his former classmates for the 50th Class Reunion. After high school, Richard enjoyed his part-time fun job selling ice cream from his Good Humor truck. Bobby Valentine (from the Mets) showed up at the 50th HS reunion and reminded Richard that he was one of his best ice cream customers.
After high school, Richard joined the U.S. Navy. It was the Vietnam era, and Richard spent his four years of military service cruising the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, aboard the USS Vogelgesang DD862 and USS McCloy DE1038.
After his discharge from the Navy, Richard returned to Stamford and heard of a well-established Stamford florist that was for sale and pursued it. The owner of Latham's Florist at the time took Richard under his wing and taught him the business. Richard decided to attend Mercy College in White Plains NY and focused on business management to improve his business skills. Richard had worked in landscaping and gardening and was a natural when it came to working with flowers. He had a successful business until family issues and then the drowning death of his son forced him to depart from his business in Stamford.
Richard then moved to southern Maryland where he had family connections and returned to his Michael family roots; he settled in Calvert County, Maryland. Shortly thereafter, Carol, the love of his life, moved from Connecticut to Maryland to join him. They established a life for themselves and purchased a restored beach cottage in the bayside community of Breezy Point. Soon thereafter, they went back to New England and married at Mohegan Bluffs on Block Island in 1987.
Eventually Richard opened and operated Richard's Bayside Florist in North Beach MD. He became an integral part of the community and was very active in the town. He enjoyed walking the North Beach boardwalk on his way to work at the flower shop. He brought joy and comfort to many people through his gift of floral design for many important and everyday occasions. He received the Member of the Year Award from the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce in 1998 for "Outstanding and Dedicated Service."
The recession took a toll on small businesses and after 18 years in business, Richard's Bayside Florist said goodbye and closed the doors on October 14, 2011 but Richard said with a smile in a newspaper article that he was leaving little pieces of himself all over town. Richard retired and enjoyed life at his home in Breezy Point. He enjoyed volunteering as a docent at the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum and the Bayside History Museum in North Beach for a short period of time. At home, he planted flower beds and had beautiful rose gardens which everyone admired. He combed the beach for shark's teeth and found a large one which he had wire-wrapped and wore around his neck; it was quite an attention getter. He and Carol explored the beautiful Chesapeake Bay country and enjoyed sailing. They also enjoyed traveling including several trips back to Block Island, an RV trip to the Southwest, and a fabulous land-sea trip to Alaska. Assateague National Seashore and the Outer Banks of North Carolina were very special to them. Richard bought himself a greenhouse and enjoyed growing lettuce and kale which he shared with his neighbors. He fed the birds and the squirrels and enjoyed watching them at his feeders. He loved his rescue dogs and had three at one time. Lexi, Richard's escape artist, still sadly waits at the door for Richard to come home.
Richard was well liked he had a great sense of humor, was friendly, thoughtful, and compassionate. He will be missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Matthew Michael Penfield, as well as his sisters, Mary Dana White, Lee Trudeau, and Anne Penfield. He is survived by his wife, Carol Penfield, his daughter, Sarah Ruggiano, two grandchildren, Robbie and Alivia Ruggiano, one sister, Kathe Simons, and many nieces and nephews. There will be a Visitation and Celebration of Life on Saturday April 12, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD followed by a Memorial Service at 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard's name may be made to the Calvert County Humane Society, 2210 Dalrymple Road, Sunderland, MD 20689.