Capt. Richard L. Ingalls ’51

Capt. Dick Ingalls set to sea on his final voyage on April 16, 2026. He was one month shy of 96. Dick led an amazing life, and he never stopped working hard and worrying about his community and his country.

Dick was born in Bangor to Alice (Strang) and Lewis Ingalls and spent his early years in Anson and Madison. He was an only child and was close to his cousin, Ron Harris, who predeceased Dick.

Fortunately for all of us, Lew and Alice moved their small family to South Portland in 1942, where Dick eventually met and wooed the love of his life, Janet Fleming. They were married in 1953 at the First Congregational Church on Meetinghouse Hill in South Portland, and they immediately produced three children, Leigh, Jim, and Andrew.

Dick was drawn to the sea from his very earliest memories. After high school, he was admitted to and graduated in 1951 from Maine Maritime Academy, which held a special place in his heart forever. He received his degree in Nautical Science and was commissioned as a naval reserve officer. He joined the U.S. Lines as a merchant mariner in 1951, serving at the same time in the Naval Reserves.

In 1955, Dick entered active service as a lieutenant junior grade in the United States Navy and moved Jan and their first born to Alameda, Calif. He served on two escort carriers in the Pacific Theater, the Cape Esperance and the Thetis Bay, which had been recommissioned as the Navy’s first helicopter assault ship.

In 1957, after six years at sea, Dick and Jan brought the family, now including newborn Jim, back to South Portland, leaving the Navy as a lieutenant senior grade. His youngest child, Andrew was born just over a year later.

Re-establishing his roots in Maine, Dick sat for his Masters License, obtained his airplane pilot license, and joined H.B. Fleming, Inc., a pile driving and marine contractor business owned by Jan’s dad, Howard (H.B.) and his friend Ray Erickson. After Howard’s death 1978, Dick and Ray’s son, Don, ran the company together. Through decades of hard work and travel throughout New England, H.B. Fleming, Inc. became a very successful business, specializing in underwater pipelines, building bridges and laying foundations for, among other projects, some of the growing Maine Mall facilities. Dick and Don remained at the helm of that business until it was sold in 1993.

Dick spent over 50 years sailing the waters of the Maine coast in his various boats, all but the first named “Moby Dick.” He was at his very happiest on the water, and those boats, and the boating community that accompanied them, provided his greatest joy.

Dick was a member of Hiram Masonic Lodge 180 in South Portland. He was a 32 degree Mason, and he was also a member of the Order of Jesters. He was a very engaged citizen of the South Portland and Portland Communities. He has been an active member of the First Congregational Church, serving in many roles, including as the church president for a year.

Dick was a master of Roberts Rules, and was always willing to step up to assist on boards in his community and connected to his beloved ocean. He served on bank boards, was a member of Kiwanis, and did wonderful work as the president of Seventy-Five State Street during a period of significant growth, when it was Maine’s largest retirement facility. Dick also served on the Board of the Portland Chamber of Commerce.

His continuing relationship to the sea brought the family to the Centerboard Yacht Club, where he served as Commodore, and was a life member. Some of Dick’s longest friendships developed at CYC.

Dick served as the chairman of the Portland Harbor Commission, and he was a founding member of the Waterfront Alliance.

He was appointed to the Maine Port Authority originally by Governor McKernan. He continued to serve on the Port Authority for years, and he was reappointed by both Governor Baldacci and Governor Lepage. Because of his deep institutional knowledge regarding Maine’s harbors, he continued to serve as a consultant to the Port Authority for a number of recent years.

In his young adult life, Dick was a very busy, focused and hard-working guy. Like many of his generation, he was a traditional Dad, who met the family’s financial needs, constantly engaged in home construction projects, and kept all of the family’s cars on the road, despite the fact that he was so often away on business. He and Jan created a large family, and his pride in his family has been more and more evident in his senior years.

Despite his well-known cantankerous political views, Dick’s generosity toward individuals in his community was equally well-known. He was always there to help out: at the dock, in others’ home projects, with business advice. He was a good friend to so many when they needed it. And although many of his friends went on to their rewards before Dick, he will be sadly missed by those he leaves behind, especially Hobie Harnden, who has been a friend and support throughout Dick’s life.

Dick and Jan were married for 69 years, until her passing in 2022 at the age of 90. Dick recently lost a beloved grandson, Aaron.

He is survived by their three children and spouses; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren, Leigh (Ingalls) and Bill Saufley of Portland, their children Ben and Jelena Rakic Saufley and daughter Eulalia Ingalls Rakic Saufley, and Jenny Saufley and her partner Maxine Jackson; Jim and Cathy (McCormick) Ingalls of Mount Olive, Ala. and their children Candice French and her children Olivia and Harrison French; Aaron’s wife Kathleen (Law) Ingalls and their children Ellie, Jack and Lily Bea Ingalls; Courtney and Josh Cornutt and their children Lennon, Caroline, and Lyla Cornutt; Bobby and Lydia (Lofte) Ingalls and their children Elias Schrandt, Adrian and Henry Ingalls; Andrew and Anne (McMonagle) Ingalls of South Portland and their children Lydia Ingalls, Nate Ingalls, and Alison Ingalls.

We can hear the ocean calling him home. The date for a service of remembrance will be announced soon.