Richard M. Kress

February 16, 1947 ~ February 7, 2022
Resided in:
Portland, ME
Portland - Richard M. Kress, 74, of Rockland Avenue, died peacefully on February 7, 2022, at Mercy Hospital.
Rich was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, on February 16, 1947. He was the eldest child of the late Richard G. and Gloria (Dion) Kress. He graduated from Bishop Bradley High School in 1965, then earned his Bachelor's Degree from St. Anselm College in 1969 and his Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971.
On August 14, 1971, he married the love of his life, Sandra A. Fowle, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Needham, Massachusetts.
In the late 1970s, Rich and Sandy moved to Portland, where Rich began his thirty-plus-year teaching career in the Portland public schools. He first taught at Lincoln Middle School, but spent most of his career at Deering High School, where he taught Latin and English. At Deering, he also taught summer school, and served as a coach for the boys' cross country and track teams.
For some people, being a teacher or a coach is a job; for Rich, it was a calling. He truly loved teaching and coaching, and his passion was evident to anyone who ever sat in his classroom or competed on one of his teams.
His enthusiasm in the classroom earned him recognition as Teacher of the Year, and his coaching accomplishments were just as impressive. He coached six state championship teams, winning a state title in all three disciplines -- cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. During the 2000-01 season, Deering boasted a perfect 24-0 record in the Southwestern Maine Athletic Association. In the 2003-04 school year, Deering swept all three state championships, and a year earlier, Rich coached a relay team that set a New England record which stood for nine years, and that earned second place at the Nike Indoor National Championships.
That said, whether you were a four-year letterman, an "A" student, or someone just looking to try something new, Rich had a way of reaching people. Quick-witted, with a sneaky sense of humor, he had a twinkle in his eye that never left him. Rich would spend countless hours chatting with students about the Classics, discussing training and race strategy with runners, and whatever was on your mind. Never one for the spotlight, or for giving big speeches, he believed in the less glamorous - hard work and doing all the little things to find success.
Rich practiced what he preached. After suffering a severe stroke in the spring of 2012, he battled back, embodying the grit and determination he instilled in others. Helped by the constant love and support of his wife, Sandy, he was able to return home despite odds that were stacked against him.
Outside of teaching and coaching, Rich enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing bridge, and was an avid sports fan, planning many of his days around what game was being played, either on one of the local sports fields or on the television. But his greatest love was the time he spent surrounded by his family, especially his sons and grandchildren.
Rich, a longtime communicant of Our Lady of Hope Parish, is survived by, among others, his wife, Sandra Kress, of Portland; his two sons and their spouses--Michael Kress and his wife, Anna, of North Yarmouth, and Stephen Kress and his wife, Sarah, of New York; four grandchildren--Benjamin, Samuel, and Ella Kress of North Yarmouth, and Charlotte Kress of New York; and four siblings--Marilyn Batchelder of Allenstown, New Hampshire, Janice Prewara and her husband, Lawrence, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, James Kress of Manchester, New Hampshire, and Mary Sue Nutt and her husband, Curtis, of Framingham, Massachusetts.
Visiting hours celebrating Rich's life will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, Maine. Prayers will be recited at the Chapel at 10:15 am on Friday, February 18, 2022, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 673 Stevens Avenue, Portland, Maine. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, 1461 Broadway, South Portland, Maine.
To view Rich's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
Mr Kress was a track and field staple at Deering high. He will be very much missed.
– Elise Kennaugh
Kress and was a huge part if my time at Deering. The track team was a family of it’s own thanks to him and his leadership.
– Sam Schack
I am so sorry for your loss. Dick was such a generous colleague to the other Latin teachers in the Portland Public Schools. He opened his classroom to me as a student-teacher and later joined our program at PHS for a year. His enthusiasm and devotion to his students and Latin were truly unmatched and I feel fortunate for the time we shared as colleagues.
– Michelle Tucci
“Papa” Kress, as we dubbed him while attending Deering High with his son, didn’t adopt the “everyone gets a trophy” mentality of the 2000s. He saw the ability to achieve in people if we were willing to work on it and gave praise to those who deserved it. Extremely knowledgeable man who graded Latin tests with no mercy. I learned more from him than any other teacher and achieved more physically than under any other coach. Glorious sense of humor whose jokes will never be forgotten. Tempus Autem Transiet.
– Matthew O’Brien
Kress and Koharian….the “K” men! I’ll miss Dick but I know we’ll meet again.
– Jon Roderick
I’m one of thousands of students who loved Mr Kress. News of his loss has broken my heart. He was a household name as all of my siblings and I — and even an uncle — took Latin with him at Deering. I can still see “agenda hodie” written on his board and hear him singing, to the tune of Mickey mouse, “-o, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt.” The line about a twinkle in his eyes and a quick wit is so true. Even when he was frustrated with a student, he continued to smile. I had trouble remembering different declensions and parts of speech and he never made me feel stupid about it. One day he told me, with a grin, “mj, you’ve got the memory of an elephant!” Then, with a bigger smile, he joked, “a dead one!” And it brought such joy and silliness to a tough moment. Forever grateful for all he taught and the drills of Latin root derivative words — the corpulent clown, the puerile student, the pulchritudinous view, etc. Thanks for everything, Mr. Kress. And to his family, thank you for sharing him with the community. Peace to you and to him, +requiescat in pace.
– Martha Fitts
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
– Han Wen & PPD Digital Team
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I have so many fond memories of Mr Kress from Latin class, cross county, and track. He had such a huge impact on so many.
– Robin Harrington
I’m sad to see that Coach Kress has died. He was one of our assistant football coaches on my 1979 Deering football team. After graduation and up to a few years ago, he would always take time to stop and chat with me to reminisce and ask how things were going with me. He was a very nice man. Paul DiMatteo DHS class of 1980
– Paul DiMatteo
I am very sorry for your loss. May his memory be for a blessing.
– Brent Yarnell
With deepest sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
– Grace Vee, Adam Brown & Family
An absolutely amazing teacher and a fantastic person. I still marvel at how I am able to decipher word meanings based on the Latin skills and love of language he helped to instill. My thoughts are with all who loved him.
– Richard DelaRosa
Words can’t begin to express the sadness I feel since hearing of the passing of Mr. Kress. He was my Latin teacher and my track and weight lifting coach, and a one-in-a-million person. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and pushed me hard because of it. He had a mischievous smile and quick wit and always managed to make me laugh, even when I wanted to be mad at him for pushing me in my training. He trusted me enough to provide daily child care for his oldest son, Mike one summer while he taught summer school. He was so into physical fitness that he rode his bike, with “Mikey” in the baby seat to my house. It was quite a sight to see them coming down the road after the 5 or so mile journey. It meant the world to me that he chose me for such an important responsibility. Many, many years have passed since that time, but to this day I still hear his words of encouragement in my head during challenging times. And 37 years later, I can still conjugate “to be” in Latin He’d be so proud. I can see that smirk now! My thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful wife, Sandy, and his sons. I pray they find the strength and support they need during this terrible time. I’m so sorry that I cannot attend his service, as I’m currently in Arizona taking care of my father. I will be there in spirit. The world has lost a remarkable man. Rest in peace, Crash! From “Jen the Jav” or “JOL”. Jen O’Leary Jones Deering High School Class of 1985
– Jen O’Leary Jones
Mr. Kress made high school more fun than it had a right to be. He was witty and energetic and so improbably passionate about Latin. I took Latin every year not because of the subject but because of him – his warmth, humor, insightfulness, and deep care for his students. It was a privilege to have been in his classroom. – Ellen Ramachandran (nee O’Brien), Deering class of ’00
– Ellen
Dear Sandra and Family My sincere condolences on Dick’s passing. He was a wonderful teacher and coach and will be remembered for his kind and compassionate ways! Bill Moses-Standish
– Bill Moses
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
– Tribute Store
Jean and Janet Flaherty Lonnie and family. We are sorry for your loss. May your memories help you through the days ahead.
– Jean Flaherty
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
– Howard and Angela Liang
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home – South Portland Chapel
– A Memorial Tree was planted for Richard M. Kress
I offer my sincere wishes for comfort and peace to Richard’s family. Just about 43 years ago, as a 9th grade, first year Latin student at Lincoln Jr High School (as it was then named), I was one of those who sat in Mr. Kress’s classroom. I still own the Latin school book he handed me. Sorry, Mr.Kress. I kept it. I guess my first impressions of the Classics were gifted to me by one who, so obviously, was a classic himself. You made me want to know more and so I studied Latin (and Greek mythology) for four more years after your inspiring introduction. The smile, the hyper-never-stop-bouncing-around passion he joyfully exuded while sharing what he so clearly considered magical knowledge. The humor and spot-on good natured chiding- he challenged my opinions unhesitatingly and he made me think. The head-shaking look of disbelief that any student could not want to learn this stuff- he just thought that was absurd. And, if you were paying attention, you knew immediately that if you needed to talk about anything at all and receive serious, thoughtful, useful feedback, he had your back. I learned all that during just one school year. Rich, the 9th grader in me is not the least bit surprised that you achieved such greatness. Thank you. And Godspeed. Rob Morris
– Rob Morris