Richard P. Thompson

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Richard P. Thompson announce his passing at 63 years old on October 1, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was at home with his partner and wife of 45 years, Pamela, surrounded by her love, devotion, compassion, and friendship. In addition to his wife, Richie is forever loved and remembered by his immediate family: daughter, Justine Pepper, son-in-law, Eric Pepper, grandson, Brandon Pepper, and younger sister, Michele Berthel. Richie is also survived by his brother, several cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and many life-long friends he called family. Richie was born on August 1, 1962 in Methuen, Massachusetts to the late David Thompson and Janice (Michel) Thompson. Richie grew up and attended schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and built a life for himself, Pamela, and Justine in Haverhill, Massachusetts before becoming a resident of Sandown, New Hampshire for the past thirty years. He was a proud member of the IUOE Local 4 Union and retired from United Rentals in April of 2025 as a Master Mechanic with twenty-two years of service. Richie was often referred to as a "jack of all trades". He was loved and respected by everyone who worked with him. Even from childhood, Richie was mathematically and mechanically gifted; it was not unusual for him to take an object apart and then reassemble it to understand how it worked. He could build or repair anything; he called it "customizing". Richie lived his life every day with intensity and purpose. He always had a plan – somewhere to be, someone to help, or something to fix. To know Richie was to love him, and many people did throughout his lifetime – from his early days of hauling freight in tractor-trailers, to his career of maintaining heavy machinery, to his life-long passion of riding and repairing Harley Davidson motorcycles. Richie made friends everywhere he went; to him, strangers were friends he had not met yet. Many who had the good fortune to be in his life knew him as intelligent, curious, loyal, funny, kind-hearted, sentimental, resourceful, generous, and fiercely protective of those he loved. Richie was devoted to his family and friends, he loved long motorcycle rides throughout the mountains of New Hampshire, seafood along the coast, and prime rib. He enjoyed a good joke and roller-coaster rides, and the only time you would find Richie sitting still was on Sunday afternoons during football season. Richie, my dad, was a provider, a protector, a caretaker, a teacher, and so much more to each of us. I have so many memories of him in each of these roles throughout my life – teaching me how to ride a bicycle, how to do long division, and drive a car, completing college applications, giving a toast at mine and Eric's wedding, helping Eric and me to make our then newly purchased house our home, holding Brandon as a newborn, playfully rolling around on the floor with him as a toddler, and helping him with middle-school homework. Please know that while Richie is no longer here on Earth, he very much remains with us. His love shines on in the brilliant sun and the bright stars at night. Look for him in the sky and you will find him there. His light will always be with us; his light will never be far. May you rest in peace, Dad, and know you have all our love for all our lives. His funeral service and interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home at bilhathome.org/giving. Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home