Jack Tillman Richardson Jr.

- Jack Tillman Richardson, Jr., 80, of Lyman, Maine, passed away peacefully June 28, 2022.  Jack was an avid ultra-marathon runner and long-distance hiker known as “Tumbleweed.”

Jack is preceded in death by his parents, Jack Tillman Richardson, Sr. and Eileen McKernan Richardson as well as two brothers Robert and Gerald, all of Florida.

Jack is survived by his loving wife Rachel Pelletier of Lyman, ME and

twin sisters, Jane and Julie Richardson both of Okeechobee, FL. In addition to Rachel and his sisters, he is survived by his six children: John Richardson and Miranda Lam of Exeter, NH, Eileen (Richardson) and Bill Rounds of Reading, MA, Philip Richardson of Clearwater, FL, Mary Ann (Richardson) and Michael Olbash of Shirley, MA, Joseph Richardson of Arlington, MA and Patrick Richardson of Skowhegan, ME, two stepchildren, Victoria (Bernard) and M.Tucker Bradford of Portland, ME and Gabriel and Indre Bernard of Kennebunkport, ME. He also leaves behind ten devoted grandchildren.

Jack was born at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard Hospital in New York. After graduating from Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, Florida in 1959 he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served for three years. He was stationed with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat team in Fort Devens, MA. Next, he attended Northeastern University and attained an Associate’s degree in Chemistry and Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.

He joined Polaroid Corporation in 1965 at the Polaroid Material Laboratory where he was responsible for instant film materials development.  After a 36-year successful career at Polaroid, including the receipt of several design patents, he retired in 2001 as Senior Principal Engineer and Graphics Manager.  Many of his colleagues from Polaroid remained his lifelong friends. 

Jack was an avid runner.  Beginning his running career in 1972, he ran over 60,000 documented miles including many 100-mile races.  He was proud of his New England AAU 50-mile Master’s track championship in 1985.

Jack also had a life-long love for hiking and the outdoors.  He actively volunteered as a trip leader with the Appalachian Mountain Club and was a winter mountaineer, enjoying hiking as an extreme sport.  He took pride in being prepared in having all the necessary gear to 40 degrees below zero.

In 2001 Jack met his wife Rachel while thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. The two of them continued their lifelong passion hiking together on many of the long trails.  Finishing up with a Pilgrimage on The Camino de Santiago from the Pyrenees in France to Finisterre at the ocean in Spain. 

Jack was a man of many passions.  He was a prolific reader with a wide range of interests.  He loved to engage family and friends in lively conversation and debate on a variety of topics.  He enjoyed long lunches with good friends discussing recently read books and current events. He had a profound respect for the natural world.  One of his deepest pleasures was soaking in the beauty of the home that he and Rachel shared on Kennebunk Pond.  He relished the opportunity for a brisk and often very chilly swim in the pond. Jack loved to share this setting with family and friends, especially on those warm summer days, for a dip in the pond and gathering for a meal surrounded by Rachel's serene garden overlooking the lake.  And perhaps at day's end, Jack would find a quiet moment on the dock watching as the sun faded over the water and listening to the loons call.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Donations may be made in Jack’s honor to:

Appalachian Trail Conservancy: P.O. Box 807 Harpers Ferry WV 25425-9988

or

Hospice of Southern Maine: 390 US Route One Scarborough ME 04074

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