Richard E. Haskell

1922 - 2015

Richard Emery Haskell, of Saco, Maine, and Greensburg, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, at the Inn at Atlantic Heights. He was born Aug. 14, 1922, in Berlin, N.H., a son of the late William Olsen Haskell and Florence Elizabeth Thurrell Haskell. Prior to retirement, he was employed by Old Republic Insurance Co. as vice president of underwriting. Prior to that, he was employed by National Union Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh and Aetna Casualty Surety Co. in Pittsburgh, Springfield, Mass., and Hartford, Conn. Richard was a World War II veteran, having served in the Army in the Infantry and Corps of Engineers. Besides serving in the United States, he was stationed in Italy with his highest rank was technical sergeant regimental personnel sergeant major. He served on the Shale Township School Board and its Unity Township School Authority. He was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Greensburg. He graduated from Wethersfield High School in Connecticut in 1940 and Trinity College, Hartford, in 1946. He also earned the distinctive Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter in 1953. He was elected President of the Allegheny Chapter CPCU in 1958. He was an active member of Charter Oak United Methodist Church where he was a member of various councils and chairman of the Christian Education and Missions Committees. He taught Sunday school and worked with the youth, teaching confirmation classes and leading teams that worked for the Appalachia Service Project. He was a Stephens minister and leader. Previous to moving to Greensburg he was a member of Elfinwild United Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon, member of the session, chairman of the Christian Education Committee, superintendent of the Junior High Department and church schoolteacher. Since his retirement, he and his wife spent six months of the year in Old Orchard Beach. He attended First Parish Congregational Church UCC in Saco, where he had been a member since 2010 and Baptist Temple, Ocean Park, Maine. He was a trustee and volunteer for the Old Orchard Beach Historical Society and Museum. He enjoyed playing soccer, volleyball, bowling, cross country skiing, tennis, softball and golf. He was a member of the Old Orchard Beach, later Dunegrass Golf Club. He enjoyed umpiring and refereeing his grandsons' little league and soccer games. His brother, Albert Edwin Haskell, died in 1993. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marilyn Wilbur Haskell; daughters, Ann Hilty and husband, David, of Franklin Park, Susan McCreary and husband, David, of Ross Township, and Lucy Begin and husband, Robert, of Saco; grandchildren, Steve Hilty, Katie Thompson, Mallory Muetzel, Lindsay Peters, Nate McCreary, J.J. (Joe) and Bobby Begin; and great-grandchildren, Edward John Thompson and Matteo Zion Muetzel. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at Laurel hill Cemetery. The Rev. Abby Lynn Haskell will officiate. DENNETT, CRAIG and PATE FUNERAL AND CREMATION, Maine, are in charge of the arrangements. For those who wish to make memorial contributions, please consider Charter Oak United Methodist Church, 449 Frye Farm Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 or First Parish Congregational Church UCC, 12 Beach St., Saco, ME 04072. For those wishing to post condolences please go to www.DCPate.com.