Richard Ziegler

Dick was born in New Rochelle, New York, on November 13, 1935, the son of educators, Pearl and Donald Ziegler. He and his sister, Ann, grew up in New Rochelle. It was here that Dick discovered his impish love of doughnuts: as the story goes, he was sent off by his mother to bring home a bag of doughnuts, only to return with a near-empty bag, having stopped to enjoy a treat along the way. His family spent summers in a rustic Maine fishing shack on Vinalhaven Island, where Dick plied the coastline in their trusty boat the Amicitia (Friendship). Later, his family relocated to Camden, Maine, a locale that engendered in Dick a life-long love of the Maine coast, including both its windjammers and Down East humor. One of Dick’s early professional goals was to work in the automotive manufacturing industry, and he indeed arranged a short stint at the General Motors Institute during his early college years. Throughout his life, he always enjoyed the challenge of finding good second-hand cars, including dickering for the best deal possible. Dick was a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, majoring in education. While beginning his teaching career in Rockland, Maine, he met his soulmate, Catherine Duncan, of Washburn, Maine. Dick and Cathy married in 1960. He obtained his Master in Education, and accepted a position as guidance counselor in Springfield, Vermont, where their first child, Jennifer, was born in 1964. During this time, Dick was active in the Vermont Air National Guard. The Zieglers moved to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire in 1967, shortly before the birth of their son, Richard. Dick became the Guidance Director for the Governor Wentworth Regional School District, working at the fledgling Kingswood Regional High School. He retired from Governor Wentworth in 1995 after a long counseling career devoted to helping countless students forge their steps beyond high school – whether onward to the work force, to 2- or 4-year schools, or to military service. In 1967, the couple adopted a 4-acre overgrown property with a rambling colonial house in Ossipee Village that they called “home” for the next 40 years. Here, Dick nurtured a young family while slowly renovating the old house and its grounds. He worked hard and enjoyed a frugal New England lifestyle – growing a large garden, cutting and splitting firewood and heating solely with wood. You might say that he developed a wood fetish – with as many as 40 cord of hardwood neatly stacked in the big barn at any one time, in a planned rotation for future burning. In addition to his tireless labor with cordwood, Dick endlessly supported his childrens’ myriad interests in school, music, sports, horse/pets, and all outdoor activities. He was a kind father and grandfather who encouraged young hands to work alongside his own, passing on life skills almost unknowingly. The lifestyle and values he imparted to his children were both simple and rich. He once said that one of the biggest challenges for a parent was to give up their children to the world, something he accomplished gracefully. After retirement, Dick remained active with his woodpile, but expanded his avocations to include support of Cathy’s work as a Trustee of the Ossipee Library, and played an occasional role as neighborly draft-horse whisperer. He rediscovered his love of boating with the Amicitia II, taking his kids and grandkids for invigorating adventures on Lake Winnipesaukee. Bearing deep sadness after his loss of Cathy in 2008, Dick moved to Marquette, Michigan, in order to live near his son and daughter-in-law, Susy, and grandsons, Thomas and Timothy. There, he was a proud grandfather, supporter, and frequent presence at local sporting and music events. He spent many hours doing miscellaneous projects to assist the Ishpeming Ski Club, an important element in the lives of his son’s family, and hence his own. Both grandsons developed ski jumping and Nordic skiing skills through participation in the club, where his son is the head cross country ski coach. In 2017, Dick hauled his John Deere tractor from Ossipee to its new home at Jen and her husband, Todd’s, house in Victor, Idaho. He timed his visit to witness a once-in-a-lifetime stunning total solar eclipse. Although the mountains of the Western U.S. pulled Jen away from NH, he enjoyed visits and was touched to be able to contribute to “Dick’s Forest” of young spruce trees planted amidst a sea of sagebrush, a landscape quite foreign to him. One of Dick’s most valued skills was that of listener. Even as an older man with failing hearing, he still asked family and friends to recount details of their lives, always supporting the conversation with wise probing questions that served to bring out the best in that person, and to further encourage their pursuits. Although he was a strong, tough man with a stubborn streak, Dick had a gentle soul and friendly, reassuring presence that was easily recognized and enjoyed by caregivers toward the end of his life, including doctors, nurses and staff with UP Health System, UP Home Health & Hospice, Teal Lake Senior Living Community, and Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice. Dick’s family extends their appreciation to all healthcare professionals who assisted him in recent months, especially to Dr. David Shahbazi. Dick will be greatly missed by his family and friends. A small family gathering will be planned in his memory in Ossipee next spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dick’s name may be made either to the Governor Wentworth Retired Educators’ Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Evelyn Moulton, Treasurer, 22 Green Street, Farmington, NH 03835, or to support the ski education program at the Ishpeming Ski Club, PO Box 127, Ishpeming, MI 49849. Dick’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com.