Richard Edward Plunkett, 86, died Nov. 24, 2024 at his home in Boothbay, Maine.

Richard was born May 7, 1938 in Long Branch, New Jersey to Frank Plunkett and Wilhelmina Ball Plunkett. Richard grew up in Long Branch, attended Long Branch High School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Monmouth College.

A former student of art studies at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, Richard served as chairman of the Long Beach Island Historic Preservation Advisory Commission which recognized preservation efforts with awards for more than 400 structures over 20 years.

He assisted in restoring six historic buildings in New Jersey and Maine, among these the 1850s Greek Revival in which he lived and the 1880s Head Tide general store and feed barn housing his Wizard of Odds and Ends shop (in Alna, Maine), which specialized in appraisals, antique buying and selling and decorative items.

Richard spent 20 years teaching elementary education in New Jersey’s Monmouth and Ocean counties. He was in the antiques business for over 65 years and owned six antique shops in New Jersey and Maine. He was an appraiser, lecturer, and published author as well as a talented artist of assumed landscapes.

Devoted to historic preservation and the arts, his memberships included the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Victorian Society in America, Preservation New Jersey, Greater Portland Landmarks and many other conservation and historical preservation groups. He was a member of the Boothbay Region Art Foundation, the New England Appraisal Society and volunteered at the St. Andrews Auxiliary Thrift shop and St. Andrews Hospital in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

He was predeceased by his partner, John Uhlrich.

He is survived by dear friends, Anthony Caprioni of Matawan, New Jersey and Chris Visco of Matawan, New Jersey as well as many friends in the Boothbay region.

A memorial service to celebrate Richard’s life will be held at All Saints by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Southport in the summer of 2025 to be announced.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, Maine.

Condolences may be shared at hallfuneralhomes.com