RICHARD H. MAILEY JR.

HARFORDS POINT – Richard H. Mailey Jr., 76, area naturalist, passed away peacefully Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at Exeter Hospital, Exeter, N.H. He was born Dec. 9, 1931, in Boston, son of the late Richard H. Mailey Sr. and Elizabeth (Redmond) Mailey. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his dear sister, Sheila Putnam of Houlton. He is survived by his brothers, Jeff, Rob and Tom Mailey; and sister, Mary Jane Mailey. He will be dearly missed by his wife, Barbara (Easterbrook) Mailey of South Hamilton, Mass.; and their children; daughter, Beth Thompson of South Hampton, N.H.; and sons, Peter C. Mailey of Falmouth and Richard H. Mailey III of Harfords Point. He was blessed with three grandchildren, Serge Thompson, Hillary Thompson and Isabel Haggett, who affectionately knew him as their “Moose Grampy.” They gave him much needed love and comfort during a difficult time in his life. A U.S. Marine Corps Reservist activated during the Korean War, he was a Colby College graduate, Class of 1957. He retired to Greenville, where he was proprietor of Dick’s Mini Pit, a popular stop for sportsman and locals. He spent the bulk of his career as a naturalist and director of the North Boston Audubon Society. His main area of study became the Osprey and in 1966 he was hired by the Audubon Society to head up their fight against the Dickey-Lincoln School Dam Project. On the St. John River, it was slated to flood the Upper St. John Valley in Northern Maine. He waged a decade-long campaign culminating in his being called to testify, in 1972, to the House Committee in Washington, D.C., on the negative impact the project would have on the then endangered Osprey. He never spoke of his accomplishments, but his family knew he was happiest on the St. John River. As a family they spent every summer there. The family thanks him for the gifts of those days and weeks, and are proud of his part in leaving the people of Maine his legacy of a free flowing “wild” river. He has requested a special thanks to his neighbors and dear friends, Gary and Gloria Dethlefsen, as well as Mike Ward, also of Harfords Point. He also missed his many friends at Kelly’s Landing and Bretons Market. The family thanks you all for your compassion through the years.