CARIBOU – Richard Clarence Mattila, 71, died March 19, 2011, surrounded by his family at a Boston hospital, after a long illness. He was born Aug. 18, 1939, in Milwaukee, to Oscar and Alvina (Schulz) Mattila.
Richard graduated from Pulaski High School in 1957 and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. Richard served four years in the U.S. Air Force at Loring Air Force Base. He later went on to a 27-year banking career that began at Northern National Bank as assistant manager and retired as senior vice president of Bank of Boston. Richard also served 10 years as Caribou city manager and was involved in many local organizations, including Caribou Jaycees and Caribou Rotary Club, where he served as president and received the Paul Harris Award in 2004. He was a devoted member of Holy Rosary Church, Caribou, for more than 40 years, was a president of the parish council and an active member of the Cursillo movement. Richard was also a Eucharistic minister, sang in the Holy Rosary choir and worked with the RCIA program. He was a fourth degree member of Knights of Columbus. He loved to sing with the Barber Shoppers and was an avid fan of the Red Sox. He enjoyed volunteering after his retirement and continued to serve the community in a number of ways. He was a member of the hospital board, a past president of the Jefferson Cary Foundation, worked with the food pantry and delivered religious service and communion to the veterans’ home.
Richard is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lillian; two sons, Michael and his wife, Jane, of Minnesota and James of Caribou; one daughter, Kimberly and husband, Kirk Pelletier, of New Hampshire; and two special grandchildren, Courtney and Nolan. He is also survived by three brothers, Norman and wife, LaDona, Bob and wife, Nancy, and George and Karen; three sisters, Jeanie and husband, Chuck Stumpf, Kathy and husband, Larry Deibert, and Donna and husband, Dennis Hart; as well as one uncle, Howard Mattila. He was predeceased by his parents; and his sister, Fran.
Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, at Lancaster Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover St., Caribou. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, March 24, at Parish of the Precious Blood, Holy Rosary Church, Caribou, with the Rev. Jean Paul Labrie officiating. A reception will be after the services at the parish hall. Spring interment will be at Maine Veteran’s Cemetery, Caribou. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Rosary Building Fund, P.O. Box 625, Caribou, ME 04736 or American Cancer Society, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at
www.lancastermorgan.com.