Richard Parks Anderson

Portland – Richard Parks Anderson passed away in Portland, ME on October 9, 2025.

Richard was a jokester, a dreamer, a guitarist, a composer, an inventor, an entrepreneur, an art lover, a progressive, and a world traveler.  He will be deeply missed by his global network of family and friends.

He was born in Muskogee, OK on September 17, 1946 to LeRoy “Andy” and Elvira “Lolly” (Ghezzo) Anderson. As an Army brat, Richard spent his early years in Germany and Venice, Italy, his mother’s hometown. The Andersons also lived all across the U.S., giving Richard an early taste for adventure.

In 1967, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War as a First Artilleryman. This experience taught him to love the people and cultures of Southeast Asia, and to hate war (and also camping).

When he returned from Vietnam, his parents had permanently settled in Bar Harbor, where Andy was hired as the director of Acadia National Park, and Lolly opened an Italian restaurant and nightclub, the (in)famous “Il Giardino.” Richard joined his brothers as the house band for many summers, while earning a journalism degree from UMaine.

He moved to Bangor and started a family with his former spouse, Cristina. For over 20 years, he owned and ran Richard Parks Furniture Gallery. The business combined his love for design and travel, and took him all over the world in search of “furniture that doesn’t suck.” But he was always happy to return to the peace, beauty, and people of Maine.

He was a passionate self-taught guitarist, and he released two albums of original compositions for classical guitar.

In 2001 he married his wife Karin, and the two of them spent nearly 25 happy years living in Maine, and traveling and adventuring together.

He is predeceased by his parents, and his “second mother,” his Aunt Giugi. He is survived by his beloved wife, Karin; as well as daughters, Caterina (Christopher) and Francesca; granddaughter, Vega; stepchildren, Valerie (Alex) and Per; first wife, Cristina; brothers, Anthony (Suzanne) and Michael (Fayelle); plus a niece, and two nephews and their children. His cats, Lilly and Ruffi, will also miss him.

A celebration of Richard’s life will be held on October 25^th at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of South Portland at 11am, followed by a reception at The Cumberland Club in Portland. To view Richard’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConryTullyWalker.com

Donations in his memory to The Victoria Mansion museum are welcome.