Richard L. Sturtevant

Richard L. Sturtevant, 61, of Sanford, passed away on Thursday March 22, 2007 at the Maine Medical Center in Portland. He was born in Portland, Maine on January 22, 1946, a son of Gus T. and Nancy (Leeman) Libby Sturtevant.Throughout his youth Richard participated and excelled in all sports. A the age of 32, one year after bypass heart surgery, he set up and participated in a 24-hour racquetball marathon to raise money for the Maine Chapter of the American Heart Association. At the end of the marathon he insisted his only problem after 24 hours of racquetball was sore feet. He said, "I'd like to give incentive to people who have had heart surgery to get out and enjoy sports and that they need not become sedentary after surgery."Richard graduated from Greely High School in 1966. He then enlisted in the USAF serving in Vietnam, Okinawa, and Thailand. He was flying crew chief and also a maintenance training instructor. He had a high technical knowledge of the c141 aircraft and related systems. His records show his veracity ranging throughout several specialties. This trait coupled with his patience and personal desire to complete a job well done enabled him to achieve outstanding results in the daily performance of his duties.Richard attended the University of Southern Maine and the Portland School of Art. His major was photography, and he later became an instructor at the Portland School of Art. He was a gifted artist and enjoyed painting and drawing.He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was always there to help others and to volunteer his services for members of the congregation.He is predeceased by his parents. He will be missed by his friends and sorely missed by his fiancee, Doris Page to whom he brought much happiness. Family and friends are invited to gather on Thursday, April 12 from 12 noon until the time of the funeral service at 1pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Sanford.To leave the family a message of condolence please use the "condolences" tab to the left.Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street in Springvale.In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association 343 Gorham Road, South Portland, Maine 04106