Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

NORTH HAVEN - Richard Irving Shields (known to most as Dick), 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on the morning of November 4th.

Born in Vinalhaven on March 13, 1929 to Dr. Victor H and Doris F Shields, Dick lived most of his life on North Haven. He was a true islander. He attended schools on both Vinalhaven and North Haven, graduating high school from Gould Academy in Bethel, ME.

After a brief period at Bowdoin College, he earned a pilot’s license and joined the Air Force, serving in Texas and Alaska during the Korean War. He returned to North Haven, where he fished for a time and then worked on the North Haven ferry. When the island ferry system was taken over by the State of Maine, he attended and graduated from Maine Maritime Academy with a maritime captain’s license.

He served as Captain of the ferry that runs from North Haven to Rockland for over 25 years, retiring in 1994.

He was predeceased by a son, Robert, in 1990. He leaves his wife, Lisa, on North Haven; a son Richard Jr. of Kennebunkport; and four daughters, Caroline Shields Shepherd of Pound Ridge, NY, Heather Shields of Yarmouth, Monica Shields of Hope, and Jamien Shields of Cushing. He will be dearly missed by his six grandchildren, Eliza Shields Brown, Jade, Leah and Vaughn Lindenau, all of Yarmouth, as well as Willa and Pearl Yetman of Hope, ME.

A service in celebration of Dick’s life will be held at North Haven Baptist Church on Saturday, November 8 at 11am with a reception to follow at Calderwood Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dick’s name to North Haven Sustainable Housing, designated for the Elder Care Facility, 148 Crabtree Road, North Haven, ME 04853 or to the North Haven Baptist Church, 18 Mullins Lane, North Haven, ME 04853.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.