Born
on Christmas Day, December 25, 1948, in Lewiston, Maine, Richard was
the son of Annonciade and Gerard Theriault. He was the second of five
children and grew up in a family that valued faith, service, and hard
work. He began his education at St. Peter’s Elementary School in
Lewiston and spent two years at Montfort Preparatory Seminary in Long
Island, New York. He returned home to complete his high school education
and graduated from St. Dominic’s Regional High School.
Richard
earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of
Maine at Orono, where he participated in the Army ROTC program and later
served in the National Guard. While at Orono, he met the love of his
life, Barbara, while they were both babysitting during church services.
They married in 1972 and built a life grounded in love, faith, and
devotion to their family that would include 3 children.
In the
1970s, Richard joined the family business and served as general manager
of G.A. Peterson in Auburn, which was owned by Lewiston Crushed Stone.
He later managed the Continental Mills in Auburn, a 500,000 square-foot
rental facility. He became President and CEO of The Continental Corp
and AmeriCon (1980–1999), managing and growing a manufacturing company
that expanded from fiberglass stair production to later include
injection-molded containers and Gazelle truck caps.
From 2000 to
2003, Richard worked as a project manager on major restoration projects
in the Lewiston-Auburn area. These included the renovation of the
Central Maine Youth Center for the Lewiston Maniacs, completed in record
time, and the restoration of Saints Peter and Paul Basilica.
In
2006, Richard founded Seniors Financial Planning Group, where he worked
as a senior consultant providing retirement and Medicare planning
services. He managed all aspects of the business, including marketing
and client education, and took great pride in helping others navigate
life’s next chapter.
Outside of work, Richard loved his family
deeply. He loved snuggling with any babies around, and it would not be
unusual to find him napping with a baby on his chest. Richard also
found great joy in boating, and loved the water. While spending time at
the family camp on the water, he even convinced his father to buy a
speedboat. This extended into a deep affinity for seafood -
specifically lobster! In the mid-1980s, he also earned his pilot’s
license and always loved flying. He also had a deep appreciation for
games of chance and was a regular at the Oxford Casino in recent years,
especially enjoying a good game of blackjack.
Richard is survived
by his beloved wife of 52 years, Barbara Theriault; his daughter
Christine Burke and her husband Arron, and their children Allison and
Evan Burke; his son Michael Theriault and his wife Diane Hirsh
Theriault, and their children James and Andrew; and his daughter-in-law
Barbie Theriault, wife of his late son Jason Theriault, and their
children Alexander and Amelia Theriault.
He is also survived by
his brother Maurice Theriault and his wife Diane; his brother Roger
Theriault and his wife Lorraine; his sister Diane Fortin and her husband
Gerry; his sister Rachel St. Pierre and her husband Michael; as well as
three brothers-in-law, four sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews,
great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Gerard and Annonciade Theriault, his son Jason Theriault, and his brother-in-law Jonathan.
Visiting
hours will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd, from 5 PM to 8 PM at The
Fortin & Pinette Group, 217 Turner Street, Auburn.
A Mass of
Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 4th, at 11 AM at
the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 122 Ash Street, Lewiston with
Committal Prayers to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.
