Richard G. Reitchel Sr.

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. – Richard G. Reitchel Sr., 70, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2021, after a long battle with cancer at his home in Zephyrhills, Fla.

Dick was born on Sept. 28, 1950, in Boston. He grew up in Wilmington, Mass. with his parents Paul A. Reitchel, Doris V. (Skeffington) Reitchel and his six brothers and two sisters. He was the third born of nine children. He played sports all through his childhood years and enjoyed playing cards and an occasional trip to Las Vegas, outdoor activities of all kinds including camping, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, motorcycling and four-wheeling, as well as spending time at his camp in Orient on East Grand Lake.

Most of all, Dick enjoyed spending time with Debra, his devoted wife and best friend for 32 years, his children Stacey, Richard Jr., and Katey. He was so proud of his three children and enjoyed seeing them grow up into productive, active, loving, caring adults and parents. Dick derived great pleasure out of watching his grandchildren Riley, Paige, Alex, and Reid growing up, playing sports, watching school concerts and spending time with them on family vacations.

Dick graduated from Wilmington High School in 1969 and after high school he attended Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Mass. in the early ’70s and went to work for New England Telephone in Boston as a central office equipment installer. In 1976 he moved to Maine where he became a Maine State Trooper graduating with the 33rd Training Troop in 1977. He was very proud to be a trooper and part of such a professional, dedicated law enforcement organization. He received the Colonel’s Award and Meritorious Service Award during his career as a trooper, detective and sergeant before retiring in 1998. After retiring from the Maine State Police, Dick worked as a private investigator, a judicial marshal in the Maine court system, security officer at MaineGeneral Medical Center, and lastly as a domestic violence investigator for the district attorney’s office, retiring completely in 2018.

In 2020 Dick and Deb moved from Maine to their new home in Zephyrhill, Fla. where Dick stayed active playing golf and other park activities.

Dick is predeceased by his father, Paul Andrew Reitchel, mother, Doris (Skeffington) Reitchel; and brother, James M. Reitchel.

He is survived by his loving wife, Debra J. (Pratt) Reitchel of Zephyrhills, Fla.; daughter, Anastatia P. (Stacey) Sutter and her husband Robbie of Palermo, son, Richard G. “Dick” Reitchel Jr., and his wife Danielle of Palermo, daughter, Katherine E. Reitchel, of San Diego; as well as his brother, Paul L. Reitchel and wife Mary Ellen of Augusta, brother, Kevin F. Reitchel and wife Barbara of Deering, N.H., sister, Marilyn J. Reitchel-Gambale of Billerica, Mass., brother, John D. “Bing” Reitchel and partner Joanne Centrella of Tewksbury, Mass., brother, Gene E. Reitchel of Naples, brother, William J. Reitchel and wife Pamela Landry-Reitchel of Bradford, Mass., sister, Dorice Reitchel and husband Robert Falco of Manchester, N.H.; grandchildren Paige and Reid Sutter of Palermo, Riley and Alexander Reitchel of Palermo; cherished aunts Joanne Skeffington of Woburn, Mass., aunt Linda (Skeffington) Ferrera of California; mother-in-law, Margaret Pratt of Randolph; and many nieces, nephews; and cousins.

The family would like to thank all the kind and caring people from Dana Farber, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, Northern Light Continuing Care, Moffitt Cancer Center and especially Gulfside Hospice of Zephyrhills, Fla.

Relatives and friends may visit on Friday, Sept. 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor Chapel, 983 Ridge Rd., Rte. 32, Windsor, where a memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. Burial and committal prayers will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery, Rte. 32, Windsor.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to any of the hospitals that treated and cared for Dick.