Bar Harbor
Richard (Rick) Hirte, 73, of Bar Harbor passed away peacefully on Dec. 22, 2020, after a long illness.
Rick was born on July 4, 1947, in Sparta, Ill. His family moved to Encino, Calif., when he was 5, and later to Newport Beach, Calif., where he graduated from high school. He earned a graduate degree from San Jose State University and became a teacher. Rick moved to Maine in the early 1980s.
Rick was a good man. He was very generous, helpful and energetic. He taught school for many years including in California and then as either a full-time or substitute teacher at the former Homestead Project in Ellsworth and at Southwest Harbor, Trenton and Bar Harbor schools. He also ran his at-home online small business, Sparkle Plenty Glassware, for over 20 years. Rick was an active community volunteer, having served for many years as a driver for Island Connections and as a Bar Harbor poll worker during elections.
Rick was very athletic. He walked, hiked, ran and rode his bike all over Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. As an avid long-distance runner, he ran in many races including six MDI Marathons, organized group runs up Cadillac Mountain and was a member of Eden Athletics running club. He also loved music and played the piano and the guitar. Rick loved cats and doted over the several cats he and his wife, Susie, had over the years. And he really enjoyed spending countless hours working on his lawn and gardens. Rick loved life and loved his family, and they loved him.
Rick is survived by his wife of 34 years, Susie Thompson of Bar Harbor; brother Bob Brooks of Las Vegas, Nev.; stepdaughter Maria Bilancia Tassey, her husband, Glenn, and their son Logan of Gorham, N.H.; stepson Ron Bilancia, his wife, Sally, and their daughter Ren of Brewer; and many good friends including neighbors Enoch and Sharon Albert of Bar Harbor and Dick Powell of Deer Isle.
Services will be private. Donations in Rick’s memory may be made to the SPCA of Hancock County, 141 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton, ME 04605.