Richard J. Rushmore Jr., of Apalachicola, Fla., Hampden, and Pemaquid Point, passed away peacefully at his home on Sept. 9 after a three-year battle with cancer.
He was born in Morristown, N.J., the son of Dr. Richard J. Rushmore Sr., and Eunice Helme Rushmore.
Dick graduated from Trinity College with a BA in economics and earned his MBA in transportation and public utilities at The Wharton School of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
Dick began his transportation career as a trainmaster for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Ashtabula, Ohio. He then moved to New York and became vice president – finance in the corporate loan department of Surface Transportation at Citibank.
Leaving life in the big city, he moved to Vermont to be revenue forecaster for the State of Vermont. He also bought an old farmhouse in need of restoration which was set on 88 acres. He now had enough space to garden, cross-country ski and drive his Ford 9N tractor.
He moved to Maine where he was vice president – finance of Coles Enterprises, Bangor. Again, he bought another farmhouse on 128 acres. The Ford 9N was replaced by a John Deere and the gardens and fields grew.
Dick always loved to travel, so it was no surprise that his next venture was senior vice president, finance, and administration of Bar Harbor Airlines and Eastern Express and president of Providence Boston Airline.
He then became vice president and general manager of Continental Express, at its Newark, N.J. hub. He was in charge of the Northern and Southern divisions and assumed responsibility for the entire east in 1990.
Dick joined the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad as vice president marketing and sales. He was then appointed vice president finance & administration, CFO and treasurer of the Bangor & Aroostook System. He continued in that capacity for Montreal, Maine and Atlantic until his retirement. During this time, not only did he establish a reputation as an astute business man, he now brought fresh produce from his garden to all the employees.
Dick also served on the board of directors of several non-profit organizations in the Bangor area.
Upon retirement, he moved to “The Forgotten Coast” in Apalachicola, Fla. He continued to fish, ride his bike, walk the beaches, and settle into the lovely historic waterfront town.
He was an active member of the leadership and choir of the Hampden Highland United Methodist Church in Hampden and, later, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and its choir in Apalachicola, Fla.
Dick also enjoyed returning each year to the family summer cottage on the coast at Pemaquid Point. He enjoyed fishing from the rocks, eating lobster and all the times shared with his family.
Dick’s wife and sons were a very important part of his life. Sharing the family meal together, canoeing up the Souadabscook stream, attending the Boy Scout camping jamboree or walking the fields with the family dog, Lindsey, gave him real pleasure. Even the chore of cutting, splitting, and stacking wood was wonderful with his sons beside him. He loved travelling to many countries with Kathy. Hiking, biking, and enjoying an evening stroll together topped his list.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kathleen P. Rushmore of Apalachicola, Fla.; sons, Jarrett Rushmore and wife Christine Kannier, and Jonathan Rushmore and wife Motoko Mitarai; and grandchildren, Henry, Madeline, Aven and Drew; brother, Thomas Rushmore; and sister, Susan Rushmore.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., Sept. 30 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalachicola, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s memory may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Apalachicola, Fla.; Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church, Hampden; or Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, Fla.