Ticonderoga. Richard F. "Dick" Arthur, 75, of Ticonderoga, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, December 9, 2013 surrounded by his wife and son after a long illness.
Born in Ticonderoga on September 18, 1938, he was the son of Richard C. and Alice M. McGraw Arthur.
Dick was a lifelong resident of Ticonderoga and a communicant of St. Mary's Church. He graduated from Ticonderoga Central High School in 1956. He furthered his education by attending Albany College of Pharmacy for four years. During his time in Albany, he worked part-time at a pharmacy learning the necessary life skills that accompanied his academic program. Throughout his four years in college he held summer positions at International Paper Mill.
Following his college education in 1961, Dick began his professional career in Burlington, Vermont. After two years he decided to return to his beloved hometown with his family as Pharmacist/Manager at Myer Drug.
From 1963 until his retirement 40 years later, Dick became an icon in the fabric of Ticonderoga's business and social life. During this time, Dick was a consultant to doctors and community residents alike.
"Dr Dick", as many referred to him was often times the doctor to the less fortunate, the angel in the night when a prescription needed to be filled and delivered after hours.
Dick bought Meyer Drug in 1983 and transformed it into Arthur Drug where he was owner/pharmacist for 19 years. All together, he worked in this store for 40 years. When he retired in December 2001, he sold his business to Rite Aid and continued to work there for a short time.
Dick served as Director of Pharmacy at Moses-Ludington Hospital until 1982 and was the consulting pharmacist at Moses-Ludington Nursing Home for 19 years.
In 1964, Dick served as the Co-Chairman of the Bi-Centennial Ball and became the Co-Founder of the Adirondack Chapter of the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
In 1974, Dick was elected to the Town Board of Ticonderoga for the first of two, four year terms. While serving on the town board, he was appointed Police Commissioner and in 1982 was the first chairman of the Ticonderoga Fire Department. In the same year he was appointed Ticonderoga's Town Supervisor.
Dick served over 50 years with the Knights of Columbus, 25 years on the Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union Board, 24 years on the Ticonderoga Country Club Gulf Corporation and for the past 10 years on the Valley View Cemetery Board. In 2009 he received an award for a Distinguished Alumni from the Ticonderoga Alumni Association.
Dick and his wife, Betty Ann loved to travel to Europe, Alaska and Canada with their friends. They also enjoyed trips to Maine to visit their son & family as often as they could.
Dick was a man of honor who believed in the American Dream working hard to get ahead and give as much back as possible to the community that he loved.
His greatest love was that of family. His sense of humor, courage and his friendly smile will be missed greatly. Dick always looked forward to golf in the summer and his annual March trip to Surfside, S.C.
Survivors include his wife and best friend for 54 years, Elizabeth Ann (Pond) Arthur; his son, Michael F. Arthur and his wife Tammy of Portland, Maine; one granddaughter, Danielle Hanson of Boston, MA; one brother, Charles P. Arthur and his wife, Fran of Voorheesville; four sisters, Mary Anne Schaffer and her husband Clarence of Glens Falls, Jane E. Banker and her husband Richard of Somerset, Indiana; Shirley Teriele and her husband Jerry of Canton, and Virginia Arthur and her husband Thomas of Champlain, Minnesota; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his beautiful daughters, Kimberly Ann and Michelle Lynn Arthur.
Calling hours for family and friends were held Friday, December 13, 2013 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, December 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Ticonderoga. The Rite of Committal followed at the family plot of the Valley View Cemetery of Ticonderoga.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Northeastern New York Chapter, 16 Wade Road, Suite 2, Latham, NY 12110 or to the Ticonderoga Alumni Association, Box 644, Ticonderoga, NY 12883.