Richard "Dick" James Largay

Westbrook - Richard J. Largay, of Westbrook, formerly of Bath, passed away on October 28, 2022 at home in Westbrook, surrounded by his loving family.  The son of Kenneth and Faustina (Palmer) Largay, Richard was born in Rockland on February 26, 1928. He attended St. Mary’s Grammar School (Augusta), Cony High School, and graduated from Morse High School (Bath) in 1946. At Morse, he was Captain of the baseball team and member of the football, basketball, and swimming teams.

After graduating from Morse, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving two years as an aircraft mechanic. He attended The University of Maine after being discharged with the rank of Private, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and football team. He was a starting lineman on the 1949 and 1950 Varsity squads, playing both offense and defense. The 1949 team tied for the Yankee Conference Championship and the 1950 team won the State Series and finished second in the Yankee Conference. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in Economics and entered the United States Marine Corps, this time as an Officer. Assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Air Control, Group 2, Marine Corps Ground Intercept Squadron-3, he spent two months 100 miles behind the enemy lines and 3 miles off the North Korean coast on Cho-Do Island where he served as an Air Defense Controller in a detachment guiding UN fighters against enemy airplanes in MiG Alley. He left active duty in 1953 at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and continued to serve in the USMC Reserves until being discharged at the rank of Major.

In the fall of 1953, Dick enrolled in The Saint Louis University College of Dental Medicine.  At Saint Louis City Hospital, Dick met nursing student Anna M. Savka. Dick and Anna married on September 3, 1955. After Dick graduated with his Doctorate in Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) in 1957, Dick and Anna moved to Bath, Maine where he established his General Dentistry practice and they lived for 65 years and raised 4 children. After 10 years in practice, Dick attended Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Training in Orthodontics from 1966-1968. Upon completion he returned to Bath, and opened his Orthodontics practice, becoming only the 2nd Board Certified provider in the State of Maine.

Dick was an active member of the community. He was Past President of the Androscoggin Dental Society, Merrymeeting Bay Dental Society, and Maine Association of Orthodontics.  Dick was a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a Fellow of the American Association of Orthodontists.

He was a past member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks, American Legion, VFW, and the Marine Corps League. Dick served terms on the Board of Directors of the United Way, Bath Area YMCA building program, and was a Corporator of Bath Savings Institution. He was also a lector and acolyte at All Saints Parish - St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Bath.  He was a faithful soul, devoted husband and father, devout Catholic, and an exceptional grandfather to 5 very fortunate grandchildren. In addition to God, family, and the Corps, Dick enjoyed Anna’s cooking, most sports and family events. His lifelong love of golf began in his early teens as a Golf Caddy at the Augusta Country Club and Bath Golf Club. He was proud to have won a Maine State Best Ball Golf Championship with dear friend Don Jumper. In retirement, he was an active participant in weekly Senior Golf tournaments around the state with close friends and yearly golf trips. He enjoyed waterfowl hunting, fishing, and canoeing with friends and family, ski trips to Mt Abram when his children were not at a swim meet, and days on the water at Reid State Park or Sebago Lake.

Dick is predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Anna Savka, infant son, Richard I. Largay, and siblings, Kenneth Largay, Daniel Largay, James Largay, Barbara Pescetta, and Joan Waldron. He is survived by his son Charles and his wife Maureen of Old Orchard Beach, daughters Teresa Chabot, Mary and her husband Gregory Penk, all of Westbrook, and Anne Marie and her husband Brent Poulin of Scarborough; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Chabot, Richard and Andrew Penk, Margaret and Samuel Poulin. He is also survived by one sister, Patricia Forney, of West Springfield, MA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 5 at St. Mary’s Church, located at 144 Lincoln Street, Bath. Rev. Frank Murray will be officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery and a reception will be immediately following in the church hall.

Arrangements are under the guidance of Desmond Funeral Homes, 638 High Street, Bath.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.desmondfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10306, Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, or St. Mary’s Church, 144 Lincoln St. Bath, ME 04530.

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