LEWISTON – Richard “Dick” Collet, 76, of Auburn, passed away surrounded by his family on Monday Jan. 26, 2026, at Central Maine Medical Center.

Dick was born June 12, 1949, in Lewiston, Maine, and was raised by Robert “Bob” and Yolande Collet. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1967 and enlisted in the United States Air Force. He trained at Lackland AFB in Texas and was then stationed in Turkey for active duty in the Vietnam War where he rose to Sgt. and earned the National Defense Service Medal and other commendations.

Following his service, Dick returned to Lewiston and used his leadership skills to advance quickly in retail management. He spent most of his career working for Tom Auger Sr. at VIP where he retired as a Senior District Manager after 30 years. He quickly learned that he was not ready for retirement and returned to work as a car salesman for several years at Emerson Chevy and later at Emerson Toyota. His charismatic personality made him a successful salesman and he loved riding the lot in the golf cart and talking to customers and his co-workers.

As much as he loved the car business, his true love was his family. Dick met the love of his life, Dianne Couillard in 1972 and married his beautiful bride on Oct. 19 of that same year. They went on to have three children, five grandchildren and one great granddaughter; he cherished each one of them and could not have been a better Dad, Pepere and Great Pepere. Dick’s favorite moments were when his whole family was together in his beautiful home on Mayfield Road – a home that he loved and worked so hard for. He loved watching his grandchildren play sports, attending their school concerts and award ceremonies, grandparents’ lunches and of course high school and college graduations and weddings. There was no doubt that he was so proud of each of them.

Dick leaves behind his wife Dianne Collet of 53 years; his children Michelle and Robert Emery, Raymond and Wendy Collet, and Renee and Charles Irish; his grandchildren Summer and William Hyland, Allison Emery and Gabriel Crosby, Grace, Joseph and Daniel Collet; his great granddaughter Dianna Emery Hyland; his sister Rita and Ronald Martin; and several other beloved family, friends and neighbors.

The family would like to thank the ICU team at CMMC for the incredible level of care they provided and for their support to the family during Dick’s time there.

Those who cared for Dick are invited to attend a Memorial Visitation on Saturday Feb. 7, 2026 at The Fortin & Pinette Group, 217 Turner Street, Auburn Maine. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Graveside services to follow in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Dick’s son-in-law’s Kidney Transplant fund at gofundme.com/CharlesIrishKidney or to the Maine Veteran’s Project at maineveteransproject.org