KENT — Richard James Lindsey was born on Jan. 24, 1940, and raised in Milton, a community in Litchfield. He was the son of the late James Herbert Lindsey and Signe Lawson Lindsey. He passed away peacefully at his home in Kent on April 25, 2023, with his wife of 45 years, Charlotte Irving Lindsey, by his side.
Known as Dick, he graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1963 with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting and an MBA degree from Hartford University in 1976. Dick left service in the United States Army as a Captain, having served in the Finance Corps in Fairbanks, Alaska, at Fort Wainwright, 1963-1964, and at Fort Greeley, Delta Junction, Alaska, 1964-1965.
Dick had three children from his first marriage: Katherine Lee Dunn, Mount Dora, Florida; Jennifer Love Lindsey, Eustis, Florida; and James Herbert Lindsey III, Candler, North Carolina. His stepchildren were William Tobin III (Terry), Navarre, Florida; Elizabeth Tobin, West Cornwall; Constance Hedden (Don), West Cornwall; Melissa Makris, Kent; and Polly Goddard (Andy), Harwich, Massachusetts. He enjoyed multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren.
While employed as Business Manager and Assistant Treasurer of Kent School, Dick often spent weekends increasing his late father’s business of buying and selling used and rare books. Upon his retirement from Kent School, he and Charlotte moved to Cutler, Maine, and he opened a bookshop, Eastern Maine Books, selling used, rare, and out-of-prints books in Machias, Maine. Dick had wanted to live near East Machias where his father was born and raised.
Moving back to Kent, Dick continued sharing his love of books by opening a shop, Richard Lindsey, Bookseller, on Main Street where he and Charlotte resided in their loft on the second floor.
Dick will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, intelligent man who served his country and his community in the same way his served his family — with deep commitment requiring no fanfare or accolades. For many years he served locally as Treasurer for the Veterans Memorial Committee, Kent Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce, and Kent Memorial Library. He was an avid fan and often owner of old cars, preferably a Packard, and was co-chair of the Annual Kent Car Show Committee. He had a passion for photography, and of course, reading. The Lindseys were also members of an area Unitarian Fellowship.
A private service will be held in July. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s memory may be made to: Veterans Memorial Committee, Kent Town Hall, P.O. Box 678, Kent, CT, 06757 or Kent Historical Society, 4 Studio Hill Rd., Kent, CT, 06757.
