Richard Guy Mullen

SOUTH PORTLAND – Richard Guy Mullen, 86, passed away peacefully on Dec. 2, 2023.

Richard was born on Dec. 15, 1936 in Levant to Guy and Rhoda Mullen. He was the fourth of five children raised on the family farm there. He graduated from Hermon High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine at Farmington. He went on to earn his Master of Science in Education degree at the University of Southern Maine.

Soon after graduation, Richard embarked on a 60-year teaching career at both public and private schools in Maine, Connecticut and New York, with the final 43 years spent at Cape Elizabeth High School.

Richard thrived at Cape Elizabeth as an English teacher and was well known for developing and coaching speech and debate teams, and directing theatre productions. His students’ work garnered numerous state championships and awards over the years, yet his true reward was seeing the life and career successes of his students who wrote him letters and visited with him — even decades after their graduation.

Richard’s dedication to his craft extended to his numerous family trips and home film and theatre productions with his wife, sons, numerous nieces, nephews and dogs. Later in life, Richard rekindled his childhood farming experience and bought a small blueberry farm in East Machias. He loved spending summers at his lakefront cottage where he could manage the blueberry operations and tend to his flower garden while preparing the next fall’s lessons.

Those who knew him will remember his sense of humor, his quiet generosity, and his mischievous spirit.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Julienne Mullen; three sons, Andrew Mullen, Patrick Mullen and Thaddeus Mullen, daughter-in-law, Tiffany Mullen; and grandson, Thomas Mullen; as well as brother, Gary Mullen, and sisters Elizabeth Dow and Leota Cronkite.

Richard was predeceased by his father, Guy, mother, Rhoda; and brother, Robert Mullen.

Visiting hours will be held at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland on Friday, Dec. 15 from 4-7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17 from 12-3 p.m.