PORTLAND – Richard W. Paulson Jr. passed away suddenly on Feb. 21, 2021 after experiencing several strokes.

Dick was born in Portland on Sept. 29, 1948, to Richard Sr. and Kathleen (Wilson) Paulson. He grew up in Cape Elizabeth and attended schools there, graduating in 1966.

He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., and a M.A. in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University in Indianapolis, Ind.

He served on the Portland City Council from 1990 until 1996, and was elected Mayor for 1994-95.

He focused on revitalizing the downtown Congress Street corridor. He was Vice-Chair of the Merrill Auditorium Renovation Committee where he successfully advocated for preservation of the original balconies.

He served as the Chief Financial Officer for a number of Portland retail and service companies; as well as Portland City Hospital and the Portland School Department. He retired in 2018, after ten years as CFO of the Rivendell Interstate School District in Orford, N.H.

In addition to his accounting career, he had a keen interest in historic preservation and renovation. He renovated his first home, a Park Street row house, from a rooming house to apartments and renovated two commercial buildings at 555-557 Congress St., which first became home to Raffles Café Bookstore, Aubergine Restaurant, and then his own business, Just Maine Made, which he operated for 14 years. Subsequently both locations were renovated for the restaurant, – Five Fifty-Five. He received a Portland Landmarks Award for his renovation of the Walk-Over Shoe building at 555 Congress St., formerly a Portland fire station, Casco Engine #1.

Dick married Carmelle (Boivin) of Rumford in 1975. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary last May. In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by their son, Aaron of Boise, Idaho; one sister, Michelle Grey and her husband Barry of Anza, Calif.; a niece and her husband, Jennifer and Michael Russo of Florida and their three children; and nephew and his wife, Lee and Elizabeth Thompson of Tennessee and their six children. He is also survived by his brother- and sister-in-law, Ian and Jeanne Treleaven, their children Corey and his wife Kelley Treleaven and their two children; Amanda and her husband Andrew Good and their two children, of Adelaide, South Australia. Dick was also predeceased by his sister Karen Clemons, who is survived by her husband Raymond, of St. Cloud, Fla.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date due to The COVID-19 Pandemic.

To share memories of Dick or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit http://www.coastalcremationservices.com

In lieu of flowers,

contributions in Dick’s memory may be made to:

The Friends of

Woodfords Corner

info@woodfordscorner.org 207-233-9276

woodfordscorner.org

Copy the Story Link