Richard Austin Bredeau was born Oct. 6, 1961 to Richard and Frances Bredeau in Waldoboro. He lived in Boothbay for most of his life, spending his childhood on Barters Island, and most of his later years on Back Narrows Road. He would also spend many summers in Waldoboro with his extended family, which he always cherished in his reminiscences.

In high school he mostly worked at local eateries, whether it was the old co-op on the east side or the long since gone Gepetto’s.

After high school he married Rebecca Reed (now Barter), with whom he had two children, Dylan and Morgan. During their marriage the family went camping and boating often. They also loved going yearly to the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival.

He spent many years working for the Boothbay Region Water District, but more people probably remember him for his taxi business, Riverside Taxi, which he operated in his later years.

He was an outdoorsman at heart, with a passion for hunting, fishing, and gardening, even briefly owning a live bait and tackle shop to supply the locals for various excursions.

He wasn’t the kind of person who was always obsessing over more. He would rather make something himself or fix something old than going out and buying something new just for the sake of buying something. He was a tinkerer, a problem solver, a provider.

He loved also to improve at whatever he did. If he got into something he’d go at it until there wasn’t any more to get, whether it was obsessing over a recipe, learning a new song, or finding new and innovative ways to improve his garden’s already ample yield.

That being said, if he did want to treat himself it was usually on fresh produce from the local farm stand, or a Greek pizza from the House of Pizza.

Richard cared deeply about his family and friends. Sometimes he could come off as gruff because of his deep sense of honesty, but at heart he was always thinking of others, and was incredibly loyal. During his taxi years he would always worry about his senior customers whenever he was unable to get them somewhere, whether it was the grocery store or to doctor’s appointments. 

Richard loved music of all types. The Beatles were his favorite band growing up, but he was into everything, collecting avidly through the years, whether the medium of the day was vinyl, cassette, or CD. 

As far as playing music, he learned guitar early on, later transitioning to mandolin, which he loved playing along with others at the Baptist church.

Richard passed away at around 1:30 the morning of Dec. 7, 2024 after four years with esophageal cancer. He didn’t have as much energy during that time, but he still enjoyed his long drives and walks around Ocean Point up to the very end.

He was in some pain towards the end, but he was never really one to fear death. He had always believed deeply that dying was really just going home. He will be missed by all of us still here, but it’s easy enough to remember him in the quiet of the woods that he loved so much.  

Richard was predeceased by his parents Richard L. Bredeau in 2007 and Frances L. Bredeau in 2019 and infant brother Joseph Bredeau. 

Richard is survived by son, Dylan Bredeau-Kirkpatrick and spouse Kelsey Bredeau-Kirkpatrick of Boothbay; daughter Morgan Bredeau and husband Christian Bassett of Boothbay; sisters Frances “Micki” Warner and husband Randal Warner of Denmark, Selina Edmonson and husband Don Edmonson of Waterbury, Connecticut; uncle Sereno T. Brown and wife Cynthia Brown of Trevett; aunt Rebekah Darden of Umatilla, Oregon; nieces, nephews and many cousins.