1939 – 2014

DURHAM—Richard “Dick” Earle Bodge, 74, passed away suddenly on Saturday, Sept. 13, at his home in Durham.

He was born in Richmond in 1939 to Gertrude (Robinson) and Charles L. Bodge.

Dick attended Jay High School, where he demonstrated his love of electronics and computers by providing tesla coil demonstrations.

His towering height of 6’ 8” allowed him to excel at basketball, winning the hearts of the people of Jay. He is still hailed in Jay as the “great basketball player.” He graduated from Jay High School in 1957 and went on to earn an associate’s degree in electronics in 1959 from the former SMVTI. He also attended classes at MIT and was recruited by IBM as an electronics engineer, in Waltham, Mass. He was later transferred by IBM to Fishkill, N.Y., and eventually to Essex Junction, Vt.

In 1976, he started his business, Maple Lane Enterprises, in New Portland where he sold and serviced electronics and appliances for the next 20 years. During his time in New Portland, an article was written about him referring to him as the “Gentle Giant.”

In 1990, he married Charlotte (Huntington) Bodge, and in 1999, they moved to Bellingham, Mass., where he worked for EMC2 as an electrical engineer in Hopkinton, Mass. He remained there for the next five years until his retirement in 2004. Sadly, his wife passed that same year.

In 2005, he moved to Durham, where he spent the remainder of his years with his life partner, Beverly Blanchard.

Dick loved working on computers, but his greatest love was solving electrical problems. Dick was multitalented — he enjoyed woodworking, crafting toys for his grandson, Justin, and making his own furniture. He excelled at computers and loved playing music on his keyboard and his four organs, which he had repaired.

Dick enjoyed spending winters at his home in Florida, where he was sought out by the community for his electrical genius. He loved fishing and had many wonderful times with his sister, Tammy and her husband, Dave, fishing the waters of Unity Pond.

Dick excelled at making his favorite desserts to satisfy his big sweet tooth.

Dick is survived by his two daughters, Dianne (Bodge) Kalb and her husband, Paul, of Star, Idaho, and Tracy (Bodge) Jarvis and her fiance, Shaun Scanlon, of Poland; his two sisters, Judith Michaud and her husband, Thomas, of Topsham, and Tammy Bodge-Terry and husband, Dave, of Burnham; his only grandson, Justin Jarvis; and many cousins in the Richmond area.

He is predeceased by his father and mother, Gertrude and Charles Bodge; his wife, Charlotte (Huntington)Bodge; and an infant daughter, Kelly.

Online condolences are at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

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