Richard David Putnam Jr.

Richard was born September 1,1956 in Northampton, Massachusetts to Richard D. Putnam and Virginia Ann Childs, who preceded Richard in death. Dick is survived by his beloved wife Debra Lou (Kerr) Putnam and son, Michael Ervin (Abigail) Putnam as well as his grandchildren Theodore Putnam and Lorelei Katherine Putnam. Dick is also survived by his father and namesake, Richard, sisters Kathleen (Dean) Grinch and Carol (Mark) Truini and brother Michael (Theresa) Putnam and brother-in-law Michael Kerr. Dick was also blessed with eleven nieces and nephews.

Dick’s father Richard, who enjoyed a 31-year successful career with Borden Chemical and Resin Division, moved his family south in 1956 where they lived for 5 years in Black Mountain, North Carolina and Waverly, Virginia. In 1961, the family relocated to their longtime childhood home in Bainbridge, New York, a small town along the Susquehanna River. Dick’s school years were spent playing sports, attending St. John’s Catholic Church and scouting and camping. Dick earned the Order of the Arrow (OA), a national scouting honor award.

The Putnam family was fortunate to have their (English) Aunt Joan and Uncle Dizzy and cousins, Anthony, Henry and Frank relocate to Bainbridge. The two families spent many years enjoying small town activities, vacationing at their grandparents’ lakeside home in Northern Maine, celebrating holidays together and creating many lifelong memories and lasting family bonds. Dick also made many lifelong friends in Bainbridge.

In 1972, Dick moved with his family to Granville, Ohio where he played football and basketball. He attended St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church and graduated from Granville High School in 1974 with many new friends.

From 1974 – 1978, Dick attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio majoring in Economics and History, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. While at Denison, he was initiated into Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, creating many lifelong friendships and memories. His ATO experience followed him closely for the next 47 years, as he and several fraternity brothers continued to reunite annually for social gatherings, golf outings, outdoor adventures and concert events.

Dick later continued his education while pursuing his business career, obtaining a Master of Business from Almeda College and University in 2003, with a major in Business Management.

From 1978 to 1992, Dick worked in the restaurant industry and obtained valuable experience in store management, business operations and finance (as an internal auditor). During this period, Dick met and married his wife, Debbie in 1986. They were blessed with the birth of their son, Michael Ervin, in 1989.

From 1992 through 2002, Dick worked at The Ecology Group (TEG), a $50 Million Recycling company, where he served as VP of Operations and Accounting. TEG was recognized in 1998 by Inc 500 as one of America’s fastest growing (#87) private businesses.

In 2003, Dick partnered with Justin Bodey, a previous trusted business associate and friend, to establish a startup waste and recycling venture known as CWM, Consolidated Waste Management LLC. They were soon joined by a third friend and associate Mark Wiseman, who brought strong customer relationship and sales skills. Dick served CWM as CEO, overseeing Operations, Finance and Human Resources.

The three partners grew CWM through hard work, ethical business practices and a strong emphasis on client service and vendor relationships. CWM was recognized in 2010 and 2011 by INC 5000 as one of America’s fastest growing private companies. The partners sold the company to a private equity group in 2015.

During Michael’s Pickerington elementary through junior high school years, Dick worked from his home office daily, providing after school oversight in the downstairs rec room for Michael, and frequent visits from Wes and Kevin. Once snacks and homework were finished, the young folks played ping pong and video games.

Dick had many interests and hobbies. Much like his son Michael, he was an avid reader and loved music and movies. Dick was a skilled chess player and enjoyed war strategy games with brother Mike. He enjoyed volunteering for an Ohio- based entrepreneurial mentoring program. He and Michael enjoyed evening games of Hearthstone. Dick enjoyed stamp collecting and walking his beloved dogs, Stella and Carly. Dick was also a competitor. In 1986, he climbed Mt Katahdin, Maine with Debbie, sister Kathy and brother-in-law Dean. Debbie, Michael and Dick climbed Cadillac Mtn in Maine in 1997. He enjoyed attending Michael’s basketball games and shooting hoops in the driveway.

Dick and his close ATO buddy Mark Beckstrand trained (more or less) and competed in two Warrior Dash (mud and obstacle) competitions in 2013 and 2014, followed by the Asheville Sprint Triathlon in 2017. One of his favorite hobbies was golf, more for the comradery with his closest ATO buddies (Greg, Beck and Dups), his nieces Ashley and Rachel, longtime friend Bob Fularz and our Tussic neighbors.

Dick joined Debbie in retirement in 2015, spending the next 7 years enjoying family activities – weddings, anniversaries, graduations, helping and visiting their parents, holiday celebrations and family picnics. In 2015–16, Dick and Mike rebuilt the (5th generation) Putnam family home in Maine, preserving 110+ years of past family history and memories and continuing the family summer home for current and future generations. Most notably, the arrival of their beloved grandchildren, Theo (2019) and Lorelei (2021) brought much joy to Dick and Debbie.

In 2017, Dick acquired yet another passion. He and Mike purchased a large area of forest and meadow (aka Putnam Mountain, or “the back 70”) behind their Maine home. They worked closely with the Maine Dept. of Agriculture to develop an extensive conservation and forest management program to protect native wildlife, wildflowers, plants and trees, and to restore the dwindling bee population.

Dick loved his family and was always willing to help in any way. He enjoyed helping Michael with Math and Science (mom assisted with liberal arts.) He was proud of Michael’s acceptance to and graduation from Miami (OH) University. Dick was pleased that Michael continued his education at Cleveland State and Georgia State, pursuing his writing and liberal arts passion and a teaching career at Georgia Gwinnett College.

In his final 30 months battling lung and bone cancer, Dick was strong, determined, protective of his family and always optimistic, believing that God was in control. His family and friends will remember his kindness, dry sense of humor, quiet strength and steadiness, and most importantly, his love for Debbie, Michael, family and friends.

Arrangements have been entrusted to SCHOEDINGER Funeral and Cremation, 6699 North High St, Worthington, Ohio 43085. Visitation on Friday August 26, from 4PM to 8PM. A mass will be held on Saturday, August 27 at 10:00AM at St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 313 North State Street, Westerville, Ohio 43082. Burial (Cremation) will be at the Putnam family plot in Houlton, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard’s memory to the Forest Society of Maine or St. Michael’s School, referencing Richard D. Putnam, Jr.

To share online memories and condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.