Richard John Santerre

Dick was born December 30, 1942 in Nashua, NH and raised in Townsend, MA. His parents, Mary and Leo and nephew, Barry preceded his death.

He attended St Johns University in New York City and North Texas State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He attended Graduate School at North Texas and Bentley University in Boston.

Dick always said he was honored to serve in the US Navy and is a Vietnam Veteran serving a one year tour in the Swift Boat Squadron, which patrolled the river and coastal region of Vietnam. Dick received many medals and ribbons for his military service. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Dick became a Certified Public Accountant and went to work for a national cpa firm. Then he joined the Internal Revenue Service as a revenue agent. In 1973, Dick began his practice is Nashua, NH, growing his firm to be one of the largest in the state. Dick and his wife, Jane, moved to Naples in 1991 and began his practice on 5th Avenue South where he maintained offices until he and Jane began their transition into retirement this past July.

While practicing in Nashua, Dick became involved in the NH CPA Society. In 1985 he was appointed the NH Board of Accountancy by Governor John Sununu. He went onto serve as Chairman of the Finance Committee for the Republican Party of NH. Senator Warren Rudman of NH appointed Dick to the Small Business Taskforce, serving as a voice for small business in Washington, DC. He was a founder and board member of the Southern NH Chamber of Commerce and was a founder and board member of the Board of Realtors Multiple Listing services of Southern NH. He served as a board member of both the boys Club and Girls Club in Nashua, Bank East, and founded “Vantage Point”, a business to business newspaper with circulation of 17000.

Dick is survived by his wife, Jane Sommers, of Naples, daughters Leslie Santerre (Adolfo Faggin Neto), Rene Sauereisen (Eric), and Julie Schalk (Rick), sister, Diane Brown (Matt), brothers, Barry (Joyce) and Jim (Anne), grandchildren, William, Ella, Rory, Jes, Nick and Haley and nephews and their families and former spouse Aurora Santerre. Dick loved his family, life in Naples, politics, cooking, boating, fishing, the beach, the military and he loved his country.

A Visitation will be held at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens this Saturday, December 12th, 2014 from 2-4pm with a Service to follow at 4pm.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made in Richard’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project (PO Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org).