SANFORD — His own pastor, two of his sons, his son-in-law and a parishioner shared their memories of Pastor Rick Leach in a conversation Monday.

Leach, 61, died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack at Curtis Lake Christian Church Sunday morning as he was preparing for services.

On Monday, the church was busy at the supper hour, as it usually is that day and on Wednesdays, when the congregation hosts a free community supper. There were little children running and laughing, older folks chatting together and a host of volunteers cleaning up and clearing up. The suppers, like other community events and activities, are part of the church’s outreach ministry.

While Leach was absent in body, he was very much present in mind, as those who knew him well talked to a reporter about the man they knew.

Leach had been a full time pastor at Curtis Lake Christian Church since 1993, starting as an assistant with former pastor Rev. Jim McAtee. Most recently, he was director of pastoral care at the 1,100 member congregation.

“Care” seemed to be among the adjectives that described him well. He was the pastor who visited if you were ill, who consoled those coping with a death and conducted funeral services, said Brett Williams, the church’s director of communications. He led the Celebrate Recovery program that helps people struggling with alcohol, drugs and a realm of other issues, helping people help themselves.

He was the first stop for anyone who came through the church door who said, “I want to talk to a pastor,” said Ryan Howell, lead pastor of the church.

He would give, quite literally, the Patriots jacket off his back as he did in January when visiting a young, financially struggling pastor and his family in Florida. The Florida pastor and his family were friends with Leach’s son Ben and his family, who were also visiting.

“They were complete strangers to my Dad,” said Ben Leach. “My Dad found out that Pastor Paul was a Patriot’s fan. Dad takes the Patriots jacket off his back and said ‘I want you to have this.’ Possessions weren’t important, people were more important than anything (in) this world.”

Rick Leach was raised in Lyman, attended Kennebunk High School and graduated from Massabesic High School in Waterboro, where he met his future wife, Holly Folsom of Alfred. The couple started dating at 16, their sons said. He served four years in the United States Air Force, came home and worked at Folsom’s Furniture in Alfred for many years before answering the call to the ministry.

What kind of fellow was he, this pastor who is seen in photographs cuddling his grandchildren, dressed in zany, colorful clothing for some church event or proudly sporting a Patriot’s jersey?

“Selfless,” said his son Matt Leach.

“Rick was a superhero,” said his son-in-law, Kevin Rodriguez, who is married to Rick and Holly’s daughter, Sarah.

“He lived a life of integrity. He was a fantastic Dad. He could fix anything and everything,” said Ben Leach.

“He was an example of righteousness,” said Howell.

“He didn’t have any strangers in his life,” recalled Matt Leach, who related the two were getting Chinese takeout one evening when the elder Leach spotted a man at the restaurant bar, clearly very inebriated. So he went over and approached the man, not with a Bible in his hand, Matt recalled, but with conversation.

“He saw value in every person he met,” said Matt, pointing out his father didn’t condemn or judge others. “He was willing to delve into lives and ask the questions.”

A celebration of Rick Leach’s life is set for Friday at the church, at 38 Westview Drive, with a calling hour 9:30 -10:30 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m.

“We’re sad at the loss,” said Matt. And while his friends and his family had wished Leach’s earthly demise had not come so soon, they take comfort in the teachings of the scriptures. “He is in a place where he is happy. And if you look at his mission in life, it was to be there.”

During the Monday service that followed the supper, Howell spoke of the departed pastor, whom he described as a model of righteousness, a man who would listen, whom, he said, “brought light to everyone.”

Howell encouraged the congregation to them to grieve and mourn, “because that grief is a gift,” he said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.