Richard Beal Gould, Sr., a lifelong resident of Farmington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 after a brief illness.
Son of Percy W. and Anna (Beal) Gould, he was born at home on a farm near the Farmington/Industry line on Aug. 23, 1916. At Farmington High School, he was president of the student council and ranked third in his class. In 1938 he graduated cum laude from Bates College, where he majored in chemistry, with a minor in physics.
Mr. Gould began teaching in Farmington High School that fall and continued teaching physics and chemistry there, and in MSAD 9, for 55 years, serving as head of the Science Department for 25 years. He thus taught thousands of students, including three generations of many families. He holds the record for teaching high school the longest in Maine.
An athlete, Richard ran cross country and played baseball and basketball in high school. At Bates he was a member of the cross country team. Then he coached cross country running, ice hockey, winter sports, track and skiing at the high school, with his track and ski teams becoming state champions. While coaching skiing, he inaugurated four-event skiing in Farmington by overseeing the cutting, without chainsaws, of the original 3 ½ miles of cross country trails and the construction of the first ski jump at Titcomb Mountain. This initiative laid the foundation for one of the most successful ski programs in the state. For this work the cross-country trail network was named the Richard B. Gould Trail System in 1998 and he was inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame in 2006. And, the year he turned 90 he was still cross country skiing and playing tennis, a game he very much enjoyed in his later years. He lived alone and, consistently focused on doing what he could do to retain his ability to be active, continued his daily hour of exercises until last month.
In addition to his teaching and coaching responsibilities, in 1941 he became part owner of the family vegetable canning business, Franklin Farms Products Company, which he operated through 1966. The factory employed 75 –100 people in peak season and, in its final year, produced over 2.8 million cans of string beans and corn.
Like his parents, Richard Gould enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a passionate gardener, researching methods, trying new varieties, and keeping notes. His apple trees each had several cultivars, the result of grafts he made from scions he collected. He kept the freezer well stocked and, in later life, made his own granola and whole grain bread.
In retirement Richard gave talks to area historical societies and others. Topics that he researched and spoke on included Farmington’s 100 Year Canning History, Farmington’s 112 Year Railroad History, History of Banking in Farmington, and Farmington High School State Championship Teams.
Active in the community, Mr. Gould was a deacon, trustee and Sunday school teacher of Old South Congregational Church, which he joined in 1931. He was a director of the First National Bank of Farmington for 27 years and a corporator of the Franklin Savings Bank for over 20 years. He was elected master of Maine Lodge F. & A.M. No. 20 for 1944-45 and he retained his membership in this organization for over 60 years. When his mother was matron, he was Patron of Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 143. Richard was also a York Rite mason and a member of Kora Temple Shrine in Lewiston.
A highly respected person, he was recognized for his contributions and achievements with the Community Recognition Award in 1978 and with the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Farmington Area Alumni in 1985.
In addition to all these accomplishments, Richard was a kind, accepting, generous, self-disciplined, strong and calmly determined man who inspired many by how he lived his life. We are blessed to have had him in our lives.
He was predeceased by his wife Frances (Lancaster) Gould in 1958 and by his wife Mary (Whitney) Gould in 1977, as well as by his brother Douglas Gould and his sister Glenys Bean. He is survived by his five children and their families: Susanne G. Clark and husband Ben of Chilmark, Mass., and Oro Valley, Arizona; Janice G. Maxham and husband Daniel of Industry, their son David and wife Joanna and their daughters Natalia and Malina, and their son Jason and wife Maria and their children Alexandra and Tobias; Richard B. Gould, Jr. and wife Anne of Skowhegan and their daughters Audrey and Tracy; Jay W. Gould and wife Debby of Holden and their daughters Whitney, Olivia, and Marissa; Scott W. Gould and wife Marcy Murray of South Burlington, Vermont, and their daughters Micaela and Kia. He is also survived by his special friend Katherine Mills, nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Family and friends are invited to call at the Wiles Remembrance Center 137 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington on Thursday afternoon and evening from 4-7 p.m. A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday morning at 11 AM from Old South Congregational Church, Main St., Farmington. Following services, all are welcome to attend a family reception in the church vestry, hosted by the Parish Hospitality Committee. Gifts of remembrance can be sent to the charity of one’
s choice or to Titcomb Ski Education Foundation, P. O. Box 135, West Farmington, ME 04992. Private interment at Fairview Cemetery, Farmington. Online condolences may be sent to the family via email to info@wilesrc.com.
