WILDER, VT — Dick passed away on December 29, 2019, with family at his side at Hanover Terrace Health & Rehab Center, one month shy of his 96th birthday.

Born in Hanover, NH, on February 3, 1924, to Abbie Hutchinson Colt & Earl Reginald Colt, he attended Hanover schools and played football, basketball and competed on the ski team.

Upon graduation from high school, he entered the University of New Hampshire. In 1942 he left to enlist in the U.S. Army. After basic training, he spent most of his service days in Europe, particularly the battle at Anzio, on the Italian coast. He was discharged from the military in 1945. Dick returned to visit Anzio in 1999 and was given a “certificate of honour” by the mayor of Anzio. He donated his Army “dress jacket,” which hangs in the museum at Anzio.

He worked in the pathology lab at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and studied to be a cytologist. Dick was privileged to studer under the famed Dr. Papanicolaou, whom the PAP test is named after, at Cornell and Sloan-Kettering in NYC. He was the first registered cytologist in the states of Maine, NH, and VT, and returned to MHMH and set up the first cytology lab and remained there for 41 years.

On November 15, 1952, he married a nurse, Betty Crutchfield, of Concord, NH, and they raised 2 sons and 2 daughters. After retirement, they spent winters on Marco Island, FL, and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe.

A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he introduced his children and grandchildren to the outdoor activities that he loved, including skiing, golf, hiking, the Red Sox, and fishing, and went to all of their school and sporting events. His compassion and sense of humor always brightened the little faces of those nearby.

Dick continued to downhill ski/race until he turned 80. He also competed in track and field Masters division for many years. He was a passionate fly fisherman and was a member of Norford Lake trout club. Every spring, he went with “the guys” to Lake Winnipesaukee to fish for salmon and every fall he went “hunting” with “the guys” to the College Grant. He never brought a rifle though, as he loved all animals.

In later years, he followed the Hanover Girls Soccer team and went to all of their games, home and away, until it became too difficult.

Dick and Betty volunteered for many years at David’s House and he was a member of the Ford Sayre Ski Council.

Dick is survived by his wife, Betty of 67 years; sons Rick (Diana) of Enfield, NH, Jeff (Cassandra) of Newton, MA; daughters Brenna, and Julie (Petaluma, CA); beloved grandchildren: Robin (Matt) of Carbondale, CO, Will (Michelle) of Park City, UT, Jeff (Aspen, CO) and Max of Newton, MA; step-grandchildren Jamie Latchaw, of Boston, and Bob Latchaw (Kara) of Hartland, VT.

The family is most grateful to all of his caregivers at Hanover Terrace, Armistead Senior Care, and Bayada Hospice.

Dick’s life will be privately celebrated by his family. Memorial contributions may be sent to David’s House in Lebanon, NH, the Senior Art Program at AVA in Lebanon, NH, or the Upper Valley Humane Society in Enfield, NH.