Richard Barter

FALMOUTH – Richard Barter passed away peacefully at his home at OceanView in Falmouth, on June 27, 2025, after a brief illness. He was 89.

He was born in Portland on Sept. 21, 1935, the son of Clinton R. Barter and Mary (Peverada) Barter. Raised in North Raymond, he attended Pennell Institute in Gray, and later the Maine Maritime Academy, the University of Maine (Orono), and Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Md.), where he earned a PhD in Education Administration.

His long professional career began with administrative/Head of School positions in Maryland (Thomas W. Pyle School, and McDonogh School), Ohio (Orange High School), and New York, where he was the first Headmaster of the combined Manlius Pebble Hill School, in DeWitt.

In 1973 he became the twenty-fourth Headmaster since its founding in 1628 of the Collegiate School in New York City, remaining Headmaster there for almost 20 years. Friends and family recall fondly the apartment at 160 Riverside Drive, where he lived with his wife and family, and hosted many, many social and school events. His achievements at Collegiate were many and, upon hearing of his death, his longtime colleague (and Collegiate alumnus) Bruce Breimer described him as “a visionary who elevated Collegiate from a regional school of excellence to a national one,” citing his work on the school’s curriculum, physical plant/facilities, and athletic program.

In 1991 he was appointed Headmaster of the prestigious Hawken School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained for a decade, following that with a variety of shorter “interim” Head of School positions at the Harley School (Rochester, N.Y. 1999-2000), North Yarmouth Academy (Yarmouth 2000-2001), Berkeley Carroll School (Brooklyn, N.Y. 2004-2006), The Albany Academies (Albany, N.Y. 2007-2009), and Speyer Legacy School (New York, N.Y. 2013-2015), as well as Vice President of Cheverus High School (Portland 2001-2002).

He also served on numerous Academic Boards and Boards of Trustees, including the American Institute for Foreign Study (1968-1990), Athens College (Athens, Greece 1990-1991), Cazenovia College (Cazenovia, N.Y. 1971-1974), the Children’s Aid Society (Cleveland, Ohio 1994-1998), Country Day Headmasters’ Association (from 1976; President 1991), The Good Hope School (St. Croix, Virgin Islands; from 1984), Independent Educational Services (Board from 1974; Vice Chairman 1981-1988, Chairman 1988-1991), Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies (1978-1982), Klingenstein Center at Teachers’ College, Columbia University (New York, N.Y.; Board 1983-2000, Chairman 1992-2000), National Association of Independent Schools (Board from 1977; Secretary 1980-1982; Vice Chairman 1982-1984; Chairman, 1984-1988), New York State Association of Independent Schools (1970-1991), Nightingale-Bamford School (New York, N.Y. 1975-1981), Ohio Association of Independent Schools (1991-1999, President (1997-1999).

He also was long active in community affairs, especially in Gray where he was elected to the Gray Town Council (for two terms), active in the Gray Historical Society, and the Gray Public Library, where he established the Pat Barter Speaker Series, and a children’s wing expansion in memory of his daughter, Kim Libby Barter.

In 1958, he married Patricia Ann Libby, and they had two children, Richard Jr. (1960) and Kim (1961).

Among his keen interests were his sailboat, the “Mody Dick,” and many family/study trips abroad, often with nieces and nephews, to places as diverse as London, Athens, Greece, and Nairobi, Kenya. In their golden years, he and his wife travelled widely, and were particularly proud to have visited Antarctica and the South Pole. And there were many, many beloved family dogs (including Domino, Daisy, Sigmund, Winston, Bully, Lulu, Kim’s Samantha, and more than one boxer called Kimbo).

His wife and daughter predeceased him, and he is survived by his son, Rick (of London, England); his sisters Pat Dunn (of Gray) and Sandra Andersen (of Fort Myers, Fla.), and a brother, Donald (of Naples, Fla.); as well as numerous godchildren; nieces, and nephews; and by his companion of later years, Nancy Wilson (of Brunswick).

A funeral and celebration of his life will be held at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, in Gray, on Saturday, Sept. 20 (11 a.m.), in honor of what would have been his 90th birthday. Reception to follow. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that charitable donations be made to The KIM Fund at the Maine Community Foundation –

or to one of the many schools, institutions, and organizations he was so proud to have been a part of.