CASCO — Richard (Rick) Oliver Post Jr., 65, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, after a courageous 15-year battle with cancer. His strength and continued optimism during his illness were an inspiration to his family, friends and colleagues.

Rick was born on March 9, 1945, in Boston, the son of Richard Oliver Post and Jane (Forte) Post. He was raised in Guilford, N.H., where he developed a lifelong love of the outdoors.

A gifted skier, Rick competed in alpine, Nordic and ski jumping in high school and enjoyed many a spring afternoon skiing the headwall at Tuckerman’s Ravine with his dad.

He attended St. Lawrence University on a ski scholarship. He served as president of his freshman class and was a member of the Laurentian Singers, discovering a passion for choral music that he would pursue at various times for the rest of his life.

After graduating from St. Lawrence, Rick served his country in Vietnam as a member of the 25th Infantry Division of the United States Army. Following his honorable discharge, Rick moved to New York and began a career in the financial and insurance industry. After earning his MBA from New York University, Stern School of Business, he worked for several years as a senior executive with Marsh & McLennan.

Rick and his wife, Dianne (Dee) C. Post, moved to the Portland area in 1986. Rick’s return to New England allowed him to renew his love of the outdoors. He and Dee spent 20-plus years exploring Maine’s beautiful coast and wilderness through camping, hiking, canoeing and skiing. Some of Rick’s happiest times were when he and Dee would load their canoe with camping gear and head for wilderness sites on Donnell Pond, Lake Umbagog and Lobster Lake. Rick was also a devoted golfer and took every opportunity to enjoy time on the course (and, unfortunately, in the woods) where he was able to truly relax.

He was an avid reader, possessed a keen intellect, and was always willing to share his thoughts, views and insights in conversations with family, friends and colleagues. His family will always have fond memories of him sitting on his dock, looking out over his much-loved Thomas Pond, reading and peacefully observing the world around him.

In June 2010, Rick retired after 18 years as chief financial officer of North Yarmouth Academy, and had looked forward to many more years of traveling and spending time with his family and friends.
Rick was active in various civic organizations including the Young Father’s Program at the Portland YMCA and the Portland Rotary, from which he received the Paul Harris Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He was also a member of the initial board of directors of the National Business Officers Association, the leading association of independent school business officers. He was widely known and respected nationally within the independent school community for his innovative and far-reaching contributions to his profession.

Rick was a profoundly spiritual person. He was a longtime member of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, where he sang in the choir for several years and, more recently, was a member of the Healing Team. Despite his illness, Rick’s deeply held belief in God’s power to heal never faltered. He was the eternal optimist, always seeing the best of any situation and believing that, with hard work and perseverance, anything could be accomplished. He was a person of immense integrity who pushed himself to the limit, expecting those around him to do the same. At the same time, he was compassionate, warm-hearted, and always willing to reach out to those in need. Those whose lives he touched understood how genuine a person he was.

In addition to his beloved wife, Dee, he is survived by his sons, Alexander Oliver Post of Boston, Richard Tucker Post of Boston and Nathaniel S. Putnam of Bangor; daughters, Sara Putnam-Orcutt of Connecticut and Jennifer R. Putnam of Massachusetts; his three grandchildren; his stepmother, Audrey Post of Camden; sister, Penny Crockett of Hope; and stepsiblings Audrey Curtis of Boothbay Harbor, Pixie Lauer of Alna and Harry Lauer of Camden.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m., at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 143 State St., Portland, with the Very Rev. Benjamin Shambaugh officiating. Following services, a reception will be held in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, remembrance gifts may be made to: The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 143 State Street, Portland, ME 04101 or Good Shepherd Food-Bank, P.O. Box 1807, Auburn, ME 04211-1807.