Read E Rich, Jr., 85, of Brunswick, ME died Tuesday, February 28th at his home surrounded by
family after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was the devoted husband of Lorraine J. (Ethier)
Rich, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage.
Born in Webster, MA. On March 3, 1937. He was the son of the late Read E Rich, Sr. and the
late Pearl (Dansereau) Evanski. He was raised and educated in Webster, MA and was a
graduate of Bartlett High School. Read enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduation and
served for 24 years working his way to Senior Chief. He traveled the world to many military
bases working in the support of anti-submarine warfare as an analyst. He served on a number
of ships, P-3 aircraft and HS helicopter squadrons. He was honored to recover the astronauts
of Gemini 5 in 1965 off of the USS Lake Champlain. Following his retirement from the Navy he
worked for COMPAT WINGSLANT in the same capacity as he did in the military for an
additional 20 years.
Read earned his Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Maine-Gorham while
working full-time and managing his family.
Read was an active parishioner and Eucharistic Minister at All Saints Parish.
He was an umpire for 50 years and served as Umpire in Chief for 36 years. In 2003 he was
inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame.
He was an active member of American Legion’s Post 20 and served as Chaplin.
In 2012 he founded the Mid Coast Veterans Center and served as director. He helped so many
veterans in need and made such a difference in so many lives. One of his favorite
accomplishments was monthly Ice Cream Socials hosted for the widows of veterans.
Read found the most pleasure in spending time family, especially with his grandchildren. He
made each of them feel like they were the most special person on the earth.
Read is survived by his son, Gregory Rich of Jacksonville, FL, his daughters, Kristine and her
husband Philip Pelletier of Hampton, NH and Jennifer and her husband Morten Andersen of
Buford GA. He is survived by his six grandchildren, Jacob Pelletier and his wife Emily, Kyle
Pelletier, Alexa Pelletier, Alexandria Rich and her fiancé Gerardo Medina, Sebastian Andersen
and Aiden Andersen. He is also survived by two great grandchildren, Brayden Pelletier and
Alison Pelletier. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald Rich.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Midcoast Veterans Resource Center at 62
Pegasus St, Suite 101, Brunswick, Maine 04011.