FARMINGTON — Richard Allen Gyory, 64, of Wilton, passed away peacefully at Franklin Memorial Hospital, Saturday, Feb. 25, from complications from multiple sclerosis.
Richard was born Jan. 13, 1948, in Patterson, N.J., the son of Robert and Marion (Barrons) Gyory. He received a bachelors degree from Kenyon College, a masters degree from California State College, and a PhD from the University of Bombay. In 1978, he published a text focused on a comparison study of eastern and western philosophy.
Richard loved sports and played football for California State College and was on the Indian National Rugby Team. Richard’s employment spanned the world. Early in his career, he was on the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and was a faculty member of Kabul University.
He came to Maine in 1984 to work as the executive director of Western Maine Community Action. According to longtime friend and colleague Fenwick Fowler, “His bold leadership style helped our organization transform from Franklin County Community Action Council to Western Mine Community Action.” While working there, he met April Guagenti and they were married in 1991. Together they traveled to Peshawar, Pakistan, where Richard was the director of the International Medical Corps. They returned to Maine, where Richard resumed his work in non-profit management with the Greater Rumford Alliance and the Children’s Trust Fund, and with his consulting company.
Throughout his life in Maine, Richard fought his disease with courage and grace. He will be remembered for many things: a unique approach to consensus building, his noble work of helping others reach their full potential, a great sense of humor, a love of life and a caring spirit.
Richard is survived by his loving wife, April Guagenti of Wilton; a sister, Carol Fitzsimmons of New Jersey; and stepmother, Eleanor Gyory of New Jersey.
Tributes and condolences may be shared with his family on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.
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