NEW LISBON – Richard Edmund Eldridge entered Eternal Rest peacefully in his sleep on July 13, 2024, at the age of 81.
While Richie was born May 2, 1943, in Georgia, he liked to say in his dearest Cape Cod accent, “it was because his Momma couldn’t make it up noth (north) on time.” He arrived on The Cape “a few days later.”
Richie is predeceased by his parents, Richard A. Eldridge, Elizabeth (Betty) Phoebe Hibbard-Eldridge of Chatham, MA and his son, Scott Brennan of upstate New York.
Richie is survived by his widow, Jane (née Walton) Eldridge; his daughter Caroleigh and son-in-law, Joris Schampaert of Portugal; grandchildren Nastazya, Saszkya & Sebaztyan Schampaert of Belgium; his namesake, Richard Hewlett of Otego and Kali Amaro of New York.
Being a part of the Chatham community, Richie was a long time Boy Scout when they met at Doc Keene's Scout Hall and a valued member of the South Chatham Community Church. Graduating from Chatham High School in 1961, Richie immediately became a commercial fisherman and was written of several times in Yankee magazine. Several years later he became a 1979 graduate of Daytona Beach Community College having mastered marine mechanics. This made life easier and more independent after having purchased the fishing vessel “Cristen” from Billy Nichols, also a beloved member of the Cape Cod community.
Richie, his family and friends spent long relaxing days at his camp on Monomoy Island. A treasure forever even when the family was stranded by ocean ice and had to be airlifted to the mainland by Coast Guard helicopter ... this was a favorite memory of Richie.
From his hunting property in New Hampshire to relocating to his loved New Lisbon country home, he so enjoyed his life and his people. His senior group of friends at the fire station, his people at The Rod & Gun Club & VFW buddies in Hartwick, best friend and ‘brother’-- Gordon Baker, Cousin Jon, Julie and Bruce, Fred, Larry ... he was dearly loved by so many.
The fabric of his life and all of those he met along The Way.
We pray as he passed over he was met by his beloved Golden Retriever, Lobo and his son, Scotty, who also passed on this same day, eight years earlier.
The world was a better place with Richie in it and those who knew him were blessed to have been part of his life.
A Celebration of Life ceremony will be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Richard Eldridge may be made to the Hartwick Fire Department Company No. 1, PO Box 86, Hartwick, NY 13348-0086.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
