Richard Greeley

WINDHAM — Richard (Dick) Greeley, 83, of Windham, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Portland on Feb. 9, 1929, the son of Charles and Esther Ramsey Greeley. Dick was a 1947 graduate of Deering High School. He began his career in the audio-visual world as a senior in high school when he attained his projectionist license and began showing movies at the Deering and Star Theaters.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1951. There, he was assigned to the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, N.J. as a motion picture sound recording instructor. It was there that Dick met his dearest friends and life mentors, Bernie and Snooks McBride.

Dick founded Sound Service Company in 1955 and in 1956 collaborated with Al Hawkes to form Event Records, Northern New England’s only sound recording studio. In 1958, he formed a lifelong friendship with actor Gary Merrill when installing a home hi-fi system at Gary and Bette Davis’ Cape Elizabeth home. In 1960, he designed and built the portable sound system for the Bette Davis road show, “The World of Carl Sandberg.” Between 1968 and 1972, he recorded Old Milwaukee Beer ads with Gary Merrill.

In 1964, he went to work for Headlight Films and in 1966 went to work at Canfield Communications as a sales engineer and installer. He went on to become their engineering and installation supervisor. While at Canfield Communications until his retirement in February of 1991, he supervised installation projects at IBM in Burlington, Vt., Pratt Whitney, UNUM, Bowdoin College and at numerous auditoriums and churches throughout New England.

Throughout his life, until two days before his death, Dick followed his passion and continued to record audio and video for family and friends.

Dick is lovingly remembered by his twin sister Ruth Stover of Newport Richey, Fla., sister Jo-Ann Cecil of Gorham; his sons, Jay Greeley of Casco and Edward Greeley of Raymond; his daughter, Cynthia Terry of Raymond; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

There were no visiting hours scheduled. Friends and relatives attended a memorial service on Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at 10 a.m., in the Woodfords Church, with the Rev. Carolyn Lambert officiating. Interment was at 1 p.m. in the Evergreen Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Maine Honor Guard.

Online condolences can be given to the family at www.jonesrichandhutchins.com

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Richard Greeley may be made to: The American Film Institution, 2021 North Western Ave., Los Angeles, California 90068.