Richard “Chibby” “Bonhomme” Bergeron

SANFORD – Richard “Chibby” “Bonhomme” Bergeron sadly passed away on Aug. 16, 2025, at 81 years old. Richard was born on Dec. 24, 1943, to Lucy Floriska Bergeron (Letourneau) and Arthur W. Bergeron in Sanford.

He lived in Sanford up until 1962 and returned from 1966-1968. He spent his elementary years at Notre Dame School and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1962. He joined the United States Navy in September of the same year and was honorably discharged in September 1966. He proceeded to get his associates degree from New Hampshire Tech in Portsmouth, N.H., graduating in 1968.

His career with I.B.M. in Essex, Vt. started in June 1968 as an Electrical Engineer and retired in 1998 after 30 years. Chibby started a part time business around 1973 selling vacuum tubes for pre-electric and electric radios. It was a niche industry that turned into a full-time business after his retirement. He so enjoyed going to radio meets throughout the years and his wife would accompany him several times.

Richard and Rita were married on Nov. 16, 1968, at St. Ignatius Church in Sanford. They had four children, and he was so proud of them. He returned to Springvale in September of 2001 with his wife to care for his mother who had Alzheimer’s. She passed in 2006. They decided to stay in Maine and watch over her sister, Jeanne Beaupre, until her passing in 2016. He loved to golf with his good friend Mel Israel and later with his cousin, Paul Letourneau.

Bonhomme was truly loved, and we will all miss him greatly. He was predeceased by his parents; and his sister-in-law, Augustine Adams Reid.

He leaves behind his wife, Rita Kay Adams Bergeron; their four children, Roman Marc (Lori), Aaron James (Lisa), Shawn Adams (Marie), and Niquette Lucy Bergeron; 14 grandchildren, Jacob, Holden, Kegan, Nathaniel “Bubba”, Abigail, Alexander, Noah, Shyanne, Gabe and Clarity Streeter, N.J., Trenton, Peter and David Roy; his siblings Ron (Claire), Phil (Connie), Claire (Dan) Unsinn, Irene (Dan) Daigle, and Anita Bergeron; his aunt, Yvonne Bergeron; and 18 nieces and nephews; and a great number of first cousins. He is also survived by his brothers-in law, David (Madelyn) Adams, Will (Jeanne) Adams and Augustines’s husband, James P. Reid. He loved all his family members, as much as they loved him. He also left behind so many special friends.

The family would like to express their gratitude the staff of Summer Commons Memory care in Sanford for the care and compassion shown to Richard and his family during his period of declining health. They would also like to thank Aaron Bergeron, Irene Daigle, Anita Bergeron,

Claire and Dan Unsinn and Will Adams and Lynne Signore for the love and support they have shown.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 24 at Black-Heald & Walker Funeral Home located at 580 Main St. in Springvale. Interment will follow at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery located on Stanley Road in Springvale.

Arrangements are under the direction of Black-Heald & Walker Funeral Home, Sanford-Springvale.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider The Alzheimer’s Association or The Springvale Public Library.