Richard Honold

BREWER & VENICE, FL - Richard Walter Honold, 69 years old, died peacefully on Friday, February 7, 2014 at the home he called paradise—IslandWalk at the West Villages in Venice, Florida. Surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final days, Rick enjoyed oldies music, laughs, memories, visits from friends, and photographs celebrating his life. Rick fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, never giving up hope or the determination to enjoy retirement as much as possible. He played tennis and bocce ball with family and friends just months before he passed. Rick’s strong faith in God, tenacity, and remarkable will to live carried him through 19 months of treatment for pancreatic cancer. He endured so much, including a difficult surgery that mercifully extended his life for six months of cancer free enjoyment with his wife in the Florida sun. He was an inspiration to family and friends, comforting other cancer survivors even the week before he died.

Rick was born on February 24, 1944 in Flushing, New York, the son of Walter and Dorothy (Pieper) Honold and younger brother to Judy. Rick graduated from Bayside High School in Queens and the New York Institute of Technology before serving in the U.S. Army. Then, as an accountant with meticulous attention to detail, Rick moved to Millinocket in 1973 to work for Great Northern Paper. There he met the love of his life, Alice Marie Jenkins. Alice and Rick each had a daughter (Kelly and Beth) from a previous marriage, and they quickly fell in love.

Later settling in Brewer, Rick and Alice were married on October 7, 1976. They had a daughter, Laura. Rick became an Internal Revenue Service agent in Bangor, where he worked for nearly 30 years until retiring in 2004. While raising their children in Brewer, Rick and Alice spent many great years boating with friends on the Penobscot Bay. Rick was passionate about music, dancing with his wife, and playing the guitar. Out of his many hobbies over the years, his greatest joy was taking care of his wife and family.

Along with his parents, Rick was predeceased by his sister Judy. Surviving in addition to his wife Alice and extended family are Rick’s daughters, Kelly Faloon Redmond of Hampden, Elizabeth Honold Goodwin and her husband Steve, of Kennebunk, and Laura Honold White and her husband Matt, also of Kennebunk. Perhaps most important to him at the end of his life, Rick was a proud and loving Papa to six grandchildren: Morgan (age 16), Connor (age 13), Caleb (age 12), Brenden (age 7), Jack (age 5), and Sophie (age 19 months).

Rick’s family and loved ones are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support throughout his brave fight against cancer. A lovely memorial service was held at his community clubhouse in Florida on Monday, February 10, 2014. The family looks forward to honoring Rick’s memory with another service in Bangor on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 11:00 am at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street ,Bangor. Relatives and friends are welcome to call before the service, between 10:00 and 11:00 am, or share in refreshments and warm memories of Rick at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street in Bangor, immediately following the service.

Those who wish to remember Rick in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, at www.pancan.org. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.