Richard C. Bandlow

Richard C. Bandlow, 81, of Springvale, died on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the Gorham House in Gorham, Maine. Richard was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 10, 1930 to Harold and Maude (Laird) Bandlow. He was raised in Queens NYC where he attended Richmond Hills High School and played baseball with Whitey Ford. He also played baseball for the New York Giants farm team from 1948 to 1949. After that he was employed at McCrory's Corporation where he met the love of his life, Geraldine Ames. She introduced him to the State of Maine and he soon became at part of it. He so enjoyed the mountains, streams and woods. The couple was married in Eustis, ME on July 30, 1950 and spent the next 61 years together. Richard was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a Sergeant during the Korean Conflict. After completing his service, the couple decided that they would move to Maine and start a family, eventually raising two daughters. Richard enjoyed all of the outdoor activities that Maine had to offer such as skiing, camping, fishing, hunting and later in life, tennis and golf. In 1968 they built their home on Hanson's Ridge Road in Springvale where they lived until recently when they relocated to the Gorham House in Gorham. Richard worked as a systems analyst for several companies during his career. He was employed for the longest and most recently by the State of New Hampshire. After retiring he spent many hours out on the golf course, even traveling down the coast for winter golf seasons in Myrtle Beach and Florida. Richard was a sensitive and kind man who possessed excellent social skills, easily striking up a conversation with anybody he met. He was a charter member of Sanford's Select Investors Club and a longtime board member and past president of the Flagstaff Memorial Chapel in Flagstaff, Maine. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Richard was predeceased by his mother, Maude Laird Bandlow, and two sisters, Gladys Laird Donahue and Jane Bandlow Stravino. Surviving are his wife, Geraldine Bandlow of Springvale; two daughters, Kathy Bandlow of So Portland and Donna Bandlow Church and her husband Edward of Lancaster, NH; a grandson, Patrick Church, currently attending the University of Maine at Orono; three nephews, Terry Davis, his wife Katherine and their three children, Erik and Craig Joncas and Kristen Davis all of Scarborough, Alan Davis and his wife Lynne of Bradenton, Florida and Richard Stravino, his wife Teresa and their two children Nicholas and Marissa all of Northport, NY, and one niece Sharon Donahue of Provo, Utah. A memorial service with military honors will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 1st at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home located at 580 Main Street in Springvale. The family would like to express their gratitude to the excellent staff of the Gorham House for the care and compassion shown to Richard during his stay there. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Flagstaff Memorial Chapel, c/o Nancy McLean, Treasurer, 703 New Portland Road, Embden, Maine 04958.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.