Kittery - Richard John Smykowski, 77, passed away on October 30, 2016 at his home in Kittery. He died after a long, hard fought battle with cancer. He was born on January 23, 1939 to John and Dorothy Smykowski in Elmira, NY. He attended Southside High School in Elmira.

Growing up, in Elmira, Richard participated in football, baseball, and boxing. He also enjoyed golf and racing speed boats in the lakes of New York.

In 1959, Richard joined the Air Force where he served two years as a firefighter for the Aircraft Crash Rescue. Richard took pride in working as a Nuclear Supervisor in Shop No. 31 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. "Ski", as he was commonly known there, worked for many years and retired in 1993.

In 1960, he married Patricia (Leary). They made their home in Kittery where they raised two daughters. Pat and Rick celebrated 54 years of marriage before her passing in 2015.

Rick had a lifelong love of the outdoors. He spent a lot of time in the woods hunting and trapping. Time spent on the water included fishing, boating, and waterskiing. Rick and his wife Pat traveled around New England in their R.V. visiting many camporees over the years. They were huge Patriots and the Red Sox fans. They hardly ever missed a game. Rick was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. After retirement, he occupied his time by woodworking, playing horseshoes, and tending vegetable gardens. More recently, he spent his time watching the array of birds and wildlife in his own backyard.

He is survived by a daughter Kim Sanborn and her husband Ralph of Kittery and a daughter Rhonda Gademsky and her husband Jeffrey of Littleton, NH. Rick has four grandchildren, Stephanie Dunn and her husband Derek, Tricia Sanborn, Jeffrey and Emma Gademsky. He is also survived by his sister, Jean McDonald and several nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his son Dale Richard, a baby daughter, and his sister Barbara Marten.

Services: Visiting hours will be Saturday, November 5th from 1-3 p.m. at JS Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Rd in Kittery, ME. A graveside memorial will be held for immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard's memory can be made to the Kittery Historical & Naval Museum or York Hospital Hospice. Visit: www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book, send a condolence card or to share a memory. Care for the Smykowski family has been entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral home.