Richard W. Elliott passed away peacefully at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Cape Elizabeth on Dec. 6, 2025, at the age of 90. 

Born on Dec. 10, 1934, in Gorham, Maine to the late Linwood Shaw Elliott and Florence Ward Elliott, Dick grew up in Falmouth, playing baseball, football and basketball at Falmouth High School. A natural born woodsman, he spent many happy days of his youth with his grandfather, Hallett Elliott, at the family home in Caratunk.  

After graduating from University of Pennsylvania in 1957, he immediately embarked on his Naval career, spending a total of 31 years in the Navy in submarines. He was on active duty until 1961, and then continued in the reserves until retiring as a full captain. 

In 1961, he and wife Lydia moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where Dick attended law school at University of Maine School of Law. After graduation, they moved to Southport Island, and he opened his own practice in the Boothbay region.  

Dick was a loving father to his son and daughter, and a devoted husband to his late wife, Lydia. Dick and Lydia met in Virginia Beach while he was stationed at the Naval base in Little Creek. They shared 58 years together, raising a family and enjoying many travel adventures, but his favorite times were when the whole family was home together on Southport Island, with a fire in the fireplace and everyone laughing and talking, a dog at his feet and his cat in his lap.  

Dick was also an avid hiker and nature enthusiast, and he and his son Rich enjoyed hiking the New England portions of the Appalachian trail many times over the years. 

Dick is survived by his son, Richard W. Elliott II and wife Elisha; daughter Robin Elliott and her wife Laura Minervino; his brother Roger, and wife Judy Elliott, his sister Carolyn Hewitt, and many nieces and nephews.

With so much gratitude to the kind people of Gosnell House who helped make his transition peaceful and pain free, to the amazing community of caring staff at the Landing in Cape Elizabeth who made these last few years so joyful for him, to Shirley Smith who helped take care of him and kept him laughing, and to the medical staff at the Wound Center on Brighton who treated him like family. 

The family wishes to have a private burial with a public memorial service in the spring.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his name to your local animal shelter. 

To extend a condolence or share a story with the family, please visit Dick’s Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com