ROCKPORT — The unassuming generosity of one Rockport man has astounded and delighted three local nonprofits that work hard to help stray and abandoned animals, as well as ensuring habitat for seabirds and coastal wildlife. Roland Richards died in 2012, but not before designating that his $500,000 investment portfolio was equally split between Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, in Thomaston, and PAWS Animal Adoption Center, in Camden. That trust is now finalized as of this month, with all the money distributed.

He also bequeathed his material assets — land and house — on Old County Road to the Maine Coastal Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

That’s a tremendous legacy. But Richards wanted nothing to do with recognition; he was a quiet, unassuming man, and he did it out of love, especially love for his wife, Leatrice, who died six years earlier, in 2006.

She loved animals and kept many pets over the years, according to her obituary, and memorial donations in her memory were directed to the Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue League (now PAWS).

Leatrice and Roland were married in 1948, and Roland said when she died that “his wife could play any instrument by ear and that any decisions they made, they made together.”

“In his will, everything he had was given to the two rescue leagues, wishing that they would use the money for operational costs,” said Scott Bickford, who was a neighbor and close friend of the Richards.

The money had been growing in stocks and bonds over the years, a lot of it in Maine Water Company.

“He had invested it and refused to spend it on himself,” said Bickford.

Bickford got to know Richards when Bickford was a young man and Richards was in his 60s. Richards had already lived a full life. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

”I’d see him in the back 40, cutting down brambly bushes or digging rocks out of the soil and carrying them back up to the house,” said Bickford.

The property where the Richards lived overlooks Glen Cove, in Rockport, and Penobscot Bay. It is a 22-acre stretch that runs between Old County Road and Route 1, with a small house. The property is currently assessed by the town at $252,000, and now is owned by the United States of America, via the country’s wildlife refuge system. The land sits in conservation.

Brian Benedict, deputy refuge manager for the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, is grateful for Richards’ bequeath. The house is being used as a dwelling for all the volunteers who help with the refuge system (The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which is part of the national refuge system consists of more than 55 offshore islands and four coastal parcels, totaling more than 8,200 acres. The complex spans more than 250 miles of Maine coastline and includes five national wildlife refuges — Petit Manan, Cross Island, Franklin Island, Seal Island, and Pond Island.)

“He was a great man,” said Benedict. “I had the chance to know him and he was remarkable.”

The refuge plans to develop trails on the property for the public to walk and the place is now known as the Roland Richards Homestead.

“It is a great fit for us,” said Benedict. “The house offers a good opportunity to house interns.”

Upon being discharged from the military, Roland worked for a year applying asbestos shingles before beginning his first appliance business, Compton's Appliance. He operated the appliance store for over 26 years. He also operated a heating and L.P. gas service business for 25 years before he settled on Oil Burner Repair, which he operated for more than 20 years.

He was born in Searsmont, March 27, 1917, the son of George and Abbie Richards. As a young man Roland worked in the woods, cutting wood from the time he was 16 until he was 21. He later worked on Herman Howard Dairy Farm in Warren for three years. At that time he also assisted with the building of the North Pond Bridge in Warren, working with one two bag mixer. From July 1941 until November 1942 Roland worked in the local quarries before entering the service. Roland recounted the story of one day in 1942 he worked 120 pieces; when at that time, anything over 59 pieces was considered a day's work. He said he earned $12, the most he ever made in one day, his obituary said.

“He tinkered a lot, and built his own house,” said Bickford. “He was a gardener and loved to grow.”

One day after Leatrice died, Roland went to Bickford’s house.

“He had been hinting around and wanted to do his estate,” said Bickford. “Roland starting getting sick. His lungs were giving him a lot of trouble.”

At one point, he landed in the hospital. Roland didn’t like that.

“He called, wanted to come home,” said Bickford.

Bickford and Donna Barrows, who were acting as powers of attorney while he was alive, arranged for him to come home, getting a hospital bed and logistics in place. But Richards died before that could happen.

“I lost him that morning,” said Bickford.

The Richards never had children, and before he died, Roland wanted his affairs well in place.

“When it came to money, he was tight,” said Bickford. “He just wanted to know it was going to a good cause.”

With the final disposition of Richards’ estate, the animal leagues are now receiving the second installment of their $260,000 bequeaths.

Tracy Sala, director of Pope Memorial, said the money is essential to helping the shelter with medical care, food, electricity and fuel, all operational costs.

“This was wonderful,” she said. “It was such a surprise. Legacy gifts like that are so important. They allow us to do more than we have planned and increase the capacity to care for animals. This kind of gift makes surgeries possible, and help with repairs of things that we are holding together with duck tape.”

Sala said she is constantly amazed by the generosity of the community, and the quiet gifts that arrive.

“I get envelopes with $2 in them, which are all as important,” she said.

The legacy gifts, which is how she refers to that of Roland Richards, are the underpinnings of a successful shelter. And, Sala said, one never knows who might be contributing. Martha Cobb adopted one of the shelter cats and years later, like Richards, bequeathed a sizable amount of money to the shelter without making any noise about it.

“My regret is that I could not thank them personally,” she said.

Pope Memorial will, however, be placing a memory stone to Richards, in the memory of Leatrice, as he hoped.

“He was a very special man and has left a wonderful legacy for homeless animals in our community,” said Sala.

The sentiment is the same at PAWS, in Camden.

“The bequeath donation we received last year had been designated to operations,” said Joe Ryan, chairman of the board of directors that oversees that animal shelter. “Mr. Richards generosity has both helped us with our day to day care and adoptions of dogs and cats, and has provided us a reserve fund.”

It is all good news to Bickford, who, in the name of a deep friendship, cares about Richards’ legacy.

“He asked for nothing himself,” he said.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657