AUGUSTA - Richard Alcide Cormier died on December 19th, 2024 with family by his side after a long journey with dementia at the Maine Veterans' Home in Augusta, Maine. Richard survived dementia with grace and humor. Kindness. Humility. Richard was the son of Edward and Beatrice ( Davignon) Cormier. He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Vivian (Cormier) Hines, Irene J. (Cormier) Dagesse, and his brother Edward Cormier, Junior. At the age of 17, Richard joined the US Navy. He became a radioman, and served in the Vietnam War. He spent time stationed on Guam and the atoll of Kwajalein. A boy raised in Melrose, Massachusetts became a surfer and disc jockey. Music and world travel lit him up then and threaded the rest of his life. He returned to civilian life and a chance meeting at Lincoln Park in New Bedford, MA changed his life again. He met Linda Cormier, who saw fireworks, and about a year later they were married. She held his hand on the way out. She held his hand through 55 years of all life could throw at them. Richard took on many trades in his post military life. Working for a dress shop, factory work, a Western Union that got robbed, odd jobs, Mosler Safe Company. Then Richard brought his skills to municipal government, gaining employment at the Assessor's Office of New Bedford. Richard and the family moved to Pensacola, FL and he worked in the County Assessor's Office. When the family moved back to New Bedford in 1976, he gained employment in the New Bedford Assessor's office and worked on the John A. "Jack" Markey mayoral campaign. He moved the family to Maine in 1984, a state he'd vacationed in at the family camp in Shapleigh since he was a kid. In 1987 he graduated from Kennebec Valley Technical College and shortly after began a career at TDS Telecom. He would employ his expertise and good demeanor at TDS for almost 20 years. He worked hard to take advantage of continuing education opportunities through work and was always interested in and prepared for the next iteration of technology. Richard and Linda lived in Canaan, ME together for 30 years. In his retirement, he worked as a flagger on construction projects and as a wide load driver for Mainely Trusses. Richard also worked in a tree nursery somewhere along the way and throughout his life, maintained a garden in the backyard. He stayed active his whole life. He enjoyed running and later cycling. On his 60th birthday, he went on a 20 or so mile bike ride. He was member of the month once at Somerset Sports and Fitness. He was crafty at card games like cribbage and whist and quietly dominated the family fantasy football league. He loved to read and most of his days ended with a book in bed. He loved to golf and Loon's Cove Golf Club in Skowhegan, Maine became one of his favorite places to play and socialize. He enjoyed and was a regular at evening scrambles and won the Club Championship one year. Richard is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda R. Cormier; his son Richard E. Cormier and daughter-in-law Brenda, and his children Randy, Scott, Christina, Phillip, Mike, Amy, and Stephanie; his daughter Monique (Cormier) Roy and son-in-law, Marc Roy, granddaughter Maddison Roy, and grandson Alexandre Roy; his son Andre and partner Shara, and granddaughters Isabella and Ember; his son Christophe and daughter-in-law Lacey, and grandchildren Mason, Emily, and Finley. All promised that this is the last time they will ever let him die. Special thank you to all of the staff that cared for Richard during his stay at 35 Heroes Way. Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home & Cremation Care, One Church Street, Augusta, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary of the Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home website www.kjhrfuneralhomes.com