Richard Albert Meibers

Richard Meibers passed away peacefully at his home in Groton, MA on April 2, 2024. He is survived by his son Damon Martin Meibers and his wife Phoebe, his brothers Jack and Joseph, longtime partner and friend Sally Reed, stepchildren Caitlin Reed and her husband Michael, Skyler Reed, and David Murphy, granddaughter Milena Reed, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his son Michael Lawrence “Pan” Meibers, his first wife Mary Louise Sander, sister Jill Meibers, and parents Martina and Harry Meibers.

Richard was born in Cincinnati on September 30, 1938. He served in the 101st Airborne (the Screaming Eagles) as a paratrooper from 1956 through 1959. Richard was proud of being one of the soldiers sent by President Eisenhower in 1957 to protect the Little Rock Nine, the students who bravely desegregated Central High School in Arkansas in the face of violent opposition. Richard went on to become a civilian skydiving instructor and delighted in parachuting dressed as Santa Claus into a shopping center parking lot at Christmastime.    

Richard had his two sons, Michael and Damon, with his first wife Mary Louise Sander. The young family moved from Cincinnati to New York City in 1965. Richard later moved to Groton with his second wife, Rebecca Wentworth, purchasing his home on the Nashua River in 1973. It was in Groton that Richard made an extraordinarily welcoming home for his sons and their many friends. He enjoyed road trips, canoeing adventures, and downhill skiing with his children and friends. He was a good listener and storyteller, an advocate for struggling students, and was generous with his time and attention.

Richard had many careers, as an actor, a psychotherapist specializing in scream therapy, a logger, a print broker, a publisher, and writer. He was the author of two books of fiction, Steal Away Home and Tree Rings, and the non-fiction history of The Fitchburg Watch. Richard loved to write! He also loved supporting other authors through his publishing company Martin & Lawrence Press, and by teaching writing. Up until his death, he was a dedicated writing instructor at the Groton Center for his adult students, who became good friends. Over the years he enjoyed acting in community theater, singing with the Nashoba Valley Chorale, and playing piano. Richard was a voracious reader and did the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle in ink. He owned a fleet of old Cadillacs; most of the time at least one was drivable. Richard was proud that he heated his home with firewood that he cut himself into his early 80s.

A celebration of life for his family and friends will be held at Richard’s home on June 22 from 1-3 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions can be made to the Nashua River Watershed Association, 592 Main Street, Groton, MA 01450 (www.nashuariverwatershed.org) or the Groton Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 395, Groton, MA 01450 (www.gctrust.org).