Richard Pominville, Dairy Farmer MIDDLEBURY - On February 19, 1931, in a farmhouse in Leicester Vermont, Richard Pominville was born the fourth of eight children to Eugene and Alberta (Larocque). On December 16, 2005, Richard died at home encircled by his loving family. From French Canadian decent, Richard learned to speak English at age five. He graduated from Middlebury High School in 1948. His parents and his mother and father-in-law, Doris and Harley Grice, nurtured his love of farming, his life long career. A dream of owning a farm became a reality shortly before his marriage to Shirley Grice in 1953. Together, they raised five children on a growing dairy farm in Middlebury. In 1966, Richard was named Outstanding Young Farmer by the Vermont State Jaycees, a national honor that ignited Richards fondness of travel and the start of many new friendships across the country. Richard was a Farm Journal panelist, and contributed to numerous other publications for innovative farming techniques. The many agricultural committees for which Richard served made him well known and respected for unique dairy farming practices. Richard gave heartily of his time for civic duties, both for the town of Middlebury and the state of Vermont. These commitments included serving 12 years on local elementary and secondary school boards, state President of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, a Middlebury Rotarian (1972 2005), a member of the National Bank of Middlebury Board of Directors (1973 2003), a board member of the Vermont Land Use Commission, and a member of the Middlebury zoning board. Richard taught himself how to read music and became a talented organ player while he sang lyrics to the great old songs of the fifties. He enjoyed ski-doodling, and also conquered the Vermont slopes by learning to downhill ski at High Pond in Brandon. In the early 80s, Richards life changed. He became an artist, a college student, an avid hiker of many Vermont peaks as well as the Long Trail, a cross-country skier, a biker who participated in triathlons, but most of all, a cancer survivor. At just 52, Richard was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, a disease that ultimately took his life 22 years later. Richard married Sandra Disorda in 1989 on the peak of Camels Hump. Together, they designed a wonderful island home, complete with a front window waterfall, on Munger Street in Middlebury. Richard enjoyed his new relationships with Sandras sons Jeff, Brian and Mike, as well as her extended family. During the 1990s, Richard continued serving his community as a member of the Middlebury Board of Selectmen. He gradually handed his farm over to his son Joel, which is now one of the largest organic dairy farms in the state of Vermont. Traveling, a good joke and laughter with friends peppered Richard and Sandras marriage. They also endured a roller coaster ride of recurring cancer and Parkinsons disease trials with unceasing confidence of his ability to conquer those obstacles. In addition to his wife Sandra and beloved dog Teddy, he leaves his children, Charles, Kathy, Jon and wife Lori, Joel, and Beth and husband Dennis Smith. Richards grandchildren Elizabeth and husband Micky West, Jonathan and wife Bobbi, Jessica, Jennifer, Joel, Sam, Lily and Phoebe, will always cherish and miss their grandfather. Richard is also survived by his first wife, Shirley, his sisters Yvette and husband Robert Cook, Marie, Susan and partner Roger Stone, and his brother Maurice and wife Sonja. Richard was predeceased by his parents, and siblings Frances, Charles and Patricia Simone. Contributions may be made in Richards name to the Elderly Services Scholarship Fund in Middlebury VT. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday December 21, at St. Marys Church in Middlebury. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Sanderson Funeral Service in Middlebury. www.sandersonfuneralservice.com