Davis I. Richardson

1926 - 2010

Lewiston-Davis Ivan Richardson, 84, of New Gloucester, formerly of Auburn, passed away on December 16 with his loving family by his side at the Central Maine Medical Center following a brief illness.He was born in Livermore Falls, Maine on May 19, 1926, the son of Ivan and Millicent Moshier Richardson. He attended school in Livermore Falls, but moved to Portland in 1942 where he attended Deering High School. Returning to Livermore Falls, he then attended Livermore Falls High School where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. In 1943, immediately following his 17th birthday, he left school and joined the US Navy. He served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Eastland, an Amphibious Assault Ship (APA) carrying troops and supplies to islands in the South Pacific and supplies to China. A Storekeeper Second Class, he was a member of beach parties that conducted amphibious assaults on South Pacific Islands including Okinawa and Ie Shima where they were subjected to heavy fire from Kamikaze attacks. He commissioned the ship in Astoria, Oregon and de-commissioned it after the war in Newport News, Virginia. He was a recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, the American Area Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal with one star and the Philippine Liberation Medal with one star. Dave left the Navy in 1946 and settled in Auburn, Maine working for his father in the James Street Market grocery store on the corner of James and Court Streets. In 1951 he bought the store. In 1964, he moved the business to 375 Court Street to a much larger store and renamed the business Dave's Market. He successfully ran this business until he sold in 1985.

After the service, he played basketball, baseball and softball in the Lewiston-Auburn leagues that sprouted up after the war. He also played in two bowling leagues and enjoyed tennis and skiing. Dave enjoyed golf, playing intermittently in the seventies and eighties. He was a faithful fan of his children's involvement in all activities, seldom missing a football or baseball game, track or ski meet. He was active in the Auburn Grandstand Club, a booster organization for high school sports and he served a term as president. He managed the Dave's Market senior division team in the Auburn Suburban Little League, a team he sponsored for many years. He also served as president of the Auburn Suburban Little League. He later coached the New Auburn Legion baseball team. He is a member of this Legion Post as well as a lifetime member of the Auburn VFW. A longtime member of the Fairlawn Country Club, Dave became an active golfer after he sold Dave�s Market in 1985. He played in the 19th Hole Golf League in the New Gloucester-Gray area and in many Fairlawn golf tournaments over the years. Among his proudest accomplishments was winning the A Flight Championship in 1991 and earning runner-up honors the following year. Dave joined the Maine State Golf Association (MSGA) and played in their weekly tournaments. In 1988 he began work with the MSGA as their scorer, handicapper and tournament director. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 2005. During this time he also scored all MSGA special events. He enjoyed doing them all, but his favorite was the annual Father-Son tournament held at Natanis Country Club. He loved hearing the little guys give their dads heck for missing a shot. During these years, he saw great changes including moving from paper records to laptop computers to the GHIN System, a scoring system he felt made golf fairer for all players. Dave served as a Director for the MSGA and was inducted into the Maine State Golf Hall of Fame in 2006. Dave was a 62 year member of Auburn's Tranquil Lodge, AF & AM. Additionally, he was a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of the Androscoggin, Lewiston Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, and Kora Temple Shrine in Lewiston. He served as a Trustee of the Gray-New Gloucester FOE Airie 4131. Dave is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary O'Connor Richardson, sons Davis and his wife Barbi of Boyds, MD, Barry and his wife Deborah Bugel of Auburn, Brian and his wife Kathleen of Ringoes, NJ; daughter Debra of New Gloucester, and sister Shirley Cloutier Watson of Hubbardston, Mass. Dave also leaves 8 grandchildren; Davis O. Richardson, Shannon Wall, Ashley Gagnon, Lindsay Richardson, Erin Hamlin, Robert Houle, Kelsey and Kyle Richardson and six great grandchildren; Lila, Ava, Grace, Dylan, Colin and Alaina. You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Richardson family by visiting their guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

AUBURN FUNERAL NOTICE:

Richardson, Davis I.-12/17/10 - Visitation The Fortin Group / Auburn Monday 2 - 4 & 6 - 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at The Fortin Group Tuesday 11:00 Am. Committal will be held in the spring. In Davis' memory donations may be made to The MSGA Davis Richardson Scholarship Fund, 58 Val Halla Road, Cumberland, ME 04021. A service of The Fortin Group / Plummer & Merrill Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services 217 Turner St. Auburn, ME 04210 (207) 783-8545