Wakefield, NH

Richard V. Poore, 82, of 2751 Wakefield Rd. died January 29 at the home he and his beloved wife designed and built for their retirement. His family was by his side.

He was born on June 12, 1943 in Portland, Maine the son of Harold M. Poore and Irene C. Lagerson Poore.

Rick, as he was known to everyone, attended Portland High School and the University of Maine at Orono where he was a member of Phi Eta Kappa Fraternity. He was an avid pool player winning the University championship and a plaque is posted in the Bear’s Den with his name on it. He taught physical education at West Junior High in Portland for two years before taking a position in the research lab at S.D. Warren of Westbrook, Me. He spent 10 years in the Chicago area working for them as regional sales rep covering 10 Midwest states. Missing the lakes and mountains of Maine, he returned to rural Maine. He purchased one of the oldest homes in Cornish and began his restoration career. He researched and studied early NE architecture becoming a self-taught cabinetmaker and restoration specialist. He established his company, 18th Century Restoration and preserved an extraordinary number of early buildings and homes in Maine, NH and Massachusetts. His work was noted in national magazines including Early American Life, Country Living, Architectural Digest, Yankee and the Downeast magazine as well as in the book “At Home in Maine” by Christopher Glass. His passion for NE life extended into him becoming a collector and authority on early antiques.

He moved to Wakefield in 2015 and in just 10 years, has left a lasting mark. When Dollar General wanted to buy and demolish the historic Sanborn House, his survey and report on its condition helped save this building. He became a member of the Wakefield Heritage Commission and oversaw the restoration of several of the Commission’s buildings and other historic assets. He moved the Wentworth Cobbler Shop from Stoneham Corner in Brookfield to Heritage Park in Union and worked to restore it. When the last remaining B&M wood water tower was donated to the Commission, it was Rick who had the expertise to rebuild it at Heritage Park. Additionally, he donated to the town more than six weeks of labor and personally restored the altar, choir loft and front pews of the Spinney Meeting House in South Wakefield. This past summer he helped the Wakefield Public Library secure a grant and oversaw the historic restoration of its pilasters.

Being a “real Mainer,” he loved fishing and hunting and all God’s creatures large or small. He had a quick wit, dry sense of humor and always a story to tell. Rick excelled at sports and was an avid tennis player in his younger days. He had a passion for sports cars and owned many over his lifetime; the last being a 2019 Z06 Corvette.

Rick is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Pam Wiggin; his loving son, Lee Robinson; his sister, Sally Madison Leeman and brother-in-law Larry Leeman of Portland, Maine; sister-in-law, Nancy Wiggin of Newbury, Vt.: nephew Weston Griffith, Jr of Crown Point, Indiana; “brother” Steven LaBreque of Limington, Me.; stepson Wayne Robinson and wife Lisa of Pittsburg, NH; step grandchildren Kenzie and husband Andrew Tobin and their son Remington of Union, NH; step granddaughter Lauryn and Tiffany Robinson of Clearwater, FL; Peter Lord and other close friends.

He was pre-deceased by his father, Harold M. Poore and his mother, Irene C. Poore of Portland and Watchic Lake, Maine.

In lieu pf Flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wakefield Heritage Commission, 2 High St, Sanbornville, NH, 03872 or the Wakefield Public Library, PO Box 904, Sanbornville, NH 03872.

Friends and family may call from 5:30-7:30 Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at the Peaslee Funeral Home, 2079 Wakefield Road Sanbornville, NH

A funeral service will be held Thursday, February 4 at 11 o’clock at the Union Congregational Church, 80 Main St., Union, NH with Rev. David Maleham officiating. Interment will be in the spring at the family’s private Tuttle Cemetery in Wakefield.