Richard Charles Hasenfus

Richard C. Hasenfus, 87, of Georgetown, passed away Tuesday, October 15, 2019 with his family by his side. Richard was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 17, 1932, the son of Nathaniel J. Hasenfus and Regina Barbara Hasenfus of West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Growing up, Richard attended Boston schools, graduating Boston Technical High School in 1950.  Richard graduated the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, Museum of Fine Art in Boston and studied for a year at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. After studying in Florence, Richard traveled and painted in The Azores, North Africa, Spain and France, then traveled across Europe on his motorbike, painting landscapes and seascapes along the way. Even having just left art school, passers-by often stopped, watched him paint, and offered to buy his work. It was a journey that kicked off what would become a brilliant, lifelong career. 

After returning from Europe, at the age of 26, Richard opened his first gallery in Harmon Harbor, where his family summered in Georgetown. Between 1956 and 1959, Rick sailed three times to the Bahamas, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and Key West to paint landscapes and seascapes, while experiencing all the colors that part of the world had to offer.

Maine eventually became his permanent home, and Richard soon opened his next art gallery in Boothbay Harbor, Maine where he once sold 21 paintings in a single day! Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Rick was a member of The Copley Society of Art in Boston and was also on their Board of Governors. In 1973, he bought his own building in downtown Wiscasset and ran the Hasenfus Gallery for over 30 years, while selling his paintings in other galleries in Hobe Sound, Florida, Tequesta, Florida, Mystic Seaport Gallery, Charleston, South Carolina, and Cape Porpoise, Maine. His paintings live on in museums in the United States and in corporate and privately-owned collections throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Richard is predeceased by two brothers; Robert Hasenfus of Georgetown, Maine and Walter Hasenfus of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. 

Richard is survived by his wife of 53 years, Christina, his two sons; Curt Hasenfus of Bath, Maine and James Hasenfus of Portsmouth, NH., his brothers; David Hasenfus and companion Norma Vining of Medford, Massachusetts and Georgetown, Maine and Paul Hasenfus of Georgetown, Maine. His sisters; Barbara Cassidy of East Wareham, Massachusetts and Marie Magliozzi and her husband, Oreste (Rusty) of Stuart, Florida and Georgetown, Maine and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Richard was a great man, husband, uncle, friend and father. He will be greatly missed.
There will be a private family graveside service. A Celebration of Life for Rick will be held at a later
date next summer.

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