Richard Allan Gum, 81, of Belfast, passed away after a brief illness on March 22, 2026 at Togus Springs Hospice in Augusta.

Allan was born in Boston on June 26, 1944 to James and Frances (Pearson) Gum, the youngest of six children. Allan served in the US Army in France before returning to Boston and later back to Belfast where he met his wife Helen in 1977. They bought a house and spent 32 years there together, raising Helen’s girls, and marrying in 1984.

Allan worked at St. Regis Paper Mill in Bucksport, Bath Iron Works in Bath, and later as community support for adults with various disabilities in Bangor, before retiring in 2012.

He was predeceased by his wife of 25 years, Helen, in 2009, his mother, Frances, in 1989, his father, James, in 1991, his five siblings: Christine Sullivan Pyle, Ruth Pecora, James Gum, William Gum, and Barbara Perkins. The family would also like to acknowledge that he was predeceased by two good friends, Charles Gerry and Walter Ash, of Belfast, who kept him in good company after Helen passed away.

Allan spent his life enjoying the New York Yankees, Nascar, building model cars and trains, and making sure that his cars and his lawn were in tip-top shape.

He is survived by his daughters, Laurie Gurschick and her husband Wayne of Turner, Julie Thompson and her husband David of Waldo, Lisa Pooler of Waterville, Jennifer Pooler and her partner Lisa of Monmouth, eleven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and a special cousin, Donna Roberts and her husband Reggie of Willmington, MA. We would also like to mention two special grandchildren, Brianna Gage of Waterville and Jason Bowles of Belfast, who spent a lot of time helping to care for and look after him in his final years.

The family would like to thank the nurses at Togus Springs Hospice for their amazing love and care during Allan’s final days.

A short and intimate gathering and internment will take place at the Veterans Memorial Cemetary in Augusta.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com