Richard Preston

HOPE – Richard Preston of Hope passed Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, after a long battle with multiple myeloma at the age of 77. “Dick”, as he was known, was the fourth of five children of Wilbur and Freda Preston. He grew up in Westbrook in a small house on Halidon Road with his brothers Robert and Steven and his sister, Carolyn. A competitive swimmer in high school, he graduated Westbrook High in 1966. He channeled his teenage interest in cars into a degree in mechanical engineering from Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute.

Dick married his high school love, Linda Hirning, in 1969, starting a family while working in the engineering department of the S.D. Warren paper mill and renovating a house they bought from Linda’s grandmother. A career change brought Dick and family to the Midcoast area in 1973. He started Sea-Tech Industries designing and installing marine hydraulic systems. Not afraid of hard work, he ran the business successfully through the ’80s.

He transitioned to a career in financial advising, becoming a Certified Financial Advisor, in the ’90s when faced with the daunting task of financing his two sons’ college educations. He wrote a book on the subject to help other families. Most recently, Dick served on the Board of Trustees of the Rockland Elks and built a cabin near Jackman. When he took a vacation, Dick and Linda frequented Aruba. Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing.

Dick is survived by his wife Linda; his sons Aaron Preston and his spouse Kimberly of North Andover, Mass., David Preston and his partner Nicki Paul of Hope; two grandchildren; and his brother, Steven Preston and wife Elaine of Casco.

It’s difficult to capture in a few paragraphs the full life Dick lived. Dick was loved and will be dearly missed.

Services will be private.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland. To share a memory or condolence with the Preston family, please visit their Book of Memories at http://www.bchfh.com.