Richard Hatch, 91, philanthropist

November 24, 2009|Associated Press

TOPSHAM, Maine - A Maine philanthropist who quietly helped preserve thousands of acres of land and gave away millions of dollars has died.

Richard L. Hatch died Wednesday in the Topsham home where he had been living for the last five years. He was 91.

No cause of death was released.

The Portland Press Herald said Mr. Hatch’s name did not begin to emerge publicly until he donated 1,910 acres of Maine coast land in Phippsburg to the Nature Conservancy, which estimated the market value at about $12 million.

Mr. Hatch and his wife, Rakia, donated more than $1 million toward the maternity ward at Maine Medical Center. Rakia Hatch died in 2005.

A friend, Merton Henry of Scarborough, said Mr. Hatch inherited much of his wealth but also made money selling homes.

In 2007, the Northern New England Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals named Mr. Hatch Maine Philanthropist of the Year.