Remembering Dick Sanner
It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of our board member, Richard (*Dick) Sanner. Dick was involved in board meetings, came to concerts and provided significant donations to Bangor Celtic in spite of serious health issues. We will miss his friendship, his wit and his ideas for making BCC stronger.
Richard E. “Dick” Sanner passed away in Aroostook House of Comfort Hospice in Presque Isle, ME on June 7, 2025.
Born in Knoxville, TN on November 5, 1938, he spent his childhood in Knoxville, then moved to Atlanta, GA for college. While there he married and started a family, moving soon to South Carolina, and then Massachusetts, where he lived for many years. After his children were grown, he moved to New Jersey, then Maine, where he retired.
Dick travelled multiple educational paths, receiving degrees in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, divinity degrees from Columbia Theological Seminary, and his doctorate from the Boston University School of Theology. His career included college teaching, college chaplaincy, and for many years, pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church. A highlight of his life in ministry was a year spent in Blackpool, England helping two congregations learn to share resources, and merge parts of their parish life.
An accomplished musician, he played the flute and piccolo, and in his later years, the bodhran. As a youth he played in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Georgia Tech marching band, both of which gave him fond lifelong memories. In his retirement, he enjoyed playing the bodhran at various local Celtic music sessions.
Dick’s retirement was complicated by serious health issues, but he continued to fully experience his life to the greatest possible extent. He thoroughly enjoyed his musical life, travel, eating well, drinking good beer, mysteries, keeping in touch with friends, and sharing jokes – good, “Dad” and others. His thirst for knowledge also continued throughout his life. His greatest pleasure, though, was spending time with family, especially his grandchildren, Jacob, Claire, Brynn and Kyla.
In addition to his grandchildren, Dick leaves his sons, Paul, Greg and Erik, Paul’s wife Kim and Erik’s partner Kristie. A memorial music session will be held on the evening of Friday, August 8, time and location to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center.