Lebanon, NH – On September 5, 2026, Dick Sanborn declared this would be a low snow ski season, so surrounded by 4 generations of family members who loved him completely, ascended to heaven to be with God, his wife Selma, and his parents Alice and Ed.
Richard Edward Sanborn, known as Dick (or “GOD” – Good Old Dick, but not God, to whom he had a lifelong commitment) was born a proud Irish Catholic in Lebanon NH on February 26, 1937 to Alice (Banagan) and Edward Sanborn, both of Lebanon, NH.
After graduating from Lebanon High School in 1955, he briefly flirted with becoming a priest but the calling of music and playing trumpet drew him to Boston University.
Although an accomplished and promising musician, the captivating jazz notes couldn’t keep him away from a stunning young blonde thing from Cheyenne, Wyoming, who had traveled east to experience the big cities. Selma Cyril Shuman, daughter of the famous Golden Gloves, Welterweight and Army National Champion boxer Heinie Shuman, became immediately smitten by the finger-snapping, pipe-smoking, hip-gyrating musician.
At the time, the forbidden love of a Catholic and a Jew, was socially unacceptable, so they decided to elope with close friends in attendance in 1958.
Once back in Lebanon, they did what all great Catholic lovers did: they had 4 kids in 2 years.
Dick never learned to cook.
If Dick was known for anything, it was his commitment to Love everyone, especially the love he had for his kids Ed (with partner Suzanne Ellis), Allison, and twins Rick (married to Susan Davis) and Andy (married to Laurie Desmarais). This was his highest calling . . . just after Christ and skiing. Not necessary in that order . . . .
Dick enjoyed winter, snow, and skiing more than anything else, and he committed to a lifelong passion of being on the slopes early and always. He spent decades teaching skiing with the Professional Ski Instructors of America, including adaptive athletes and ski racers all over New England.
In the 1970’s, Dick joined other hipsters and threw himself entirely into playing golf and then tennis, the second of which only lasted for two months.
He only bought white cars to remind him of snow.
Dick loved the community of Lebanon and the Upper Valley and it sure loved him back. It’s rare that a man can live a full life without enemies, but Dick was the consummate man who loved to help others and make people of all ages smile. That was his true music.
One of the founding members of the Hillcrest Acres Gang, Dick and the group held the best lawn parties and lawnmower races of the 70’s.
While his father Ed (and later his son, Ed) were and are Master builders of homes and custom wooden boats, Dick was just a horrible wood worker, often commenting how hard it was to weld wood back together when he cut it too short.
His decades at Sanborn Oil Company, initially run by his father Ed, provided him the skills to be the first one called throughout the region so “Tool Time Dick” could come show off his legendary level of tool mastery and teaching skills to new and old homeowners on how to fix and improve anything. Some suggest Home Depot became profitable based just on Dick’s purchase history.
He hated peanut butter, but would happily devour it – so long as he did not know the dessert contained the loathed spread.
Dick’s love of teaching, from ensuring the boys could rewire a house with metal conduit still live of course (so ensuring mistakes were learnable events), to his decades of teaching at the New England Fuel Institute and being a substitute teacher throughout the Upper Valley’s school districts made him a beloved fixture.
The arrival of grandkids (Caroline and Ryan Sanborn from Rick and wife Susan) and Ried (from Allison) became his reason for getting up with the sun every day. Love was his currency and he was rich with it and generous in doling it to everyone.
His woodworking skills were so much better than his golf and tennis games.
Great-grandkids Lilya and Theodore (provided by Ried and wife Chelsey) were as precious to Dick as new fallen snow. The way he lit up when those kids came to visit could start a fire.
Dick’s passing was preceded by Selma’s in November 2025.
As one would expect from the Proud Irish, a wake/viewing hours will be held at 5:30-7:30pm on Wednesday, September 9th at Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School Street, with a Catholic Mass at 10:00am on Thursday, September 10th, at Sacred Heart Church, 2 Hough St, both in Lebanon, New Hampshire. There will be a burial at approximately 11am at Valley Cemetery after the Mass. The family also invites everyone who knew Dick to come to Salt Hill Pub after the burial for a remembrance Scotch for Dick and the Irish.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New England Healing Sports Association, PO Box 2135 Newbury, NH 03255 or Neash.org
To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.
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