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Richard McIntosh - Class of 1967

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 04/Mar/2026
71.223.130.53

            Richard McIntosh Obituary - Son of a Son of a Sailor

In Loving Memory of Our Dear Father, Husband, and Friend

Richard Dana McIntosh sailed onto his final voyage on February 17th, 2026. Rich was born May 31st, 1949 to William Austin McIntosh and Opal Juanita "Chris" (Christofferson) McIntosh at Lenox Hill Hospital in Queens, NY. Bill, Chris, and young Richard lived in New York City and New Jersey in his early years and in this time his sister, Jean, was born. Richard enjoyed the many trips they would take to his grandparents' summer home on Fire Island. It was here that Rich's lifelong love of the ocean, and the ships and boats who ply her waters, was forged. He would find himself called to the water many times in his life. As a young boy he also developed his interest in farming, waking up at 4am, before the Saturday Morning Cartoons, to watch The Modern Farmer, something that entertained his grandfather who hailed from North Dakota. When Richard was about six years old, Bill and Chris relocated their little family to Newburgh, NY. They loved living in The Hudson Valley amongst so much history. During Rich's early teen years his family became involved in Revolutionary War Reenactments, and Richard found his love of music through this, joining a local Fife and Drum band in Newburgh.

Rich graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1967. Having focused on the trades and technical studies in high school, Rich was not intending to go to college. In the fall of 1968, with the Vietnam War raging, Rich made the decision to enlist instead of risking getting drafted. He chose the Navy at the recommendation of his father, who had served in the Army in WWII. Richard was most proud of his duty station on the USS Lexington, a naval air training carrier in the Gulf of Mexico. His time in the Navy brought him all over the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast, from Boston and Rhode Island, to Key West, Pensacola, and New Orleans. Rich loved traveling and enjoyed exploring all the places the Navy gave him the opportunity to see, especially Boston, which became his favorite city. In August of '69 Rich used one of his leave passes to attend Woodstock with his friend and fellow Navy man, Frank Halstrom. It was at Woodstock that Rich met the young woman who would later become his first wife, Anne Miller. Woodstock also gave Rich a few other wonderful stories beyond new love, such as meeting hippie icon (and fellow redhead) Wavy Gravy, waking up to Jimi Hendrix playing the National Anthem at sunrise, and of course, seeing his favorite band at the time Country Joe and The Fish. In his explorations of Key West Richard found the music of Jimmy Buffet and The Coral Reefer Band, of whom he would remain a lifelong fan.

In 1971 Richard was discharged from the Navy and that fall he married Anne. He found work in the construction trades and pursued many interesting and unique work opportunities and hobbies, such as stock car racing. He helped his father-in-law with a thoroughbred horse breeding ranch that his father-in-law owned in West Virginia. That is where his favorite dog, Rocky, came into his life. Richard fondly remembered riding his dirt bike around the property with Rocky running faithfully at his side. In November of 1973 Richard became a father, welcoming his son Dana into the world. In 1975 Richard took a job building oil rig drilling platforms near Beaumont, Texas with friends Ron and John Light. Richard discovered outlaw country music in Beaumont, and became a fan of Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. He was also very proud of the fact that he got to see The Winter Brothers play live in their hometown. While living in Texas, the three friends and their wives were searching for land they could purchase together to start their own intentional Back To The Land community, their other friend Steve Dorresteyn, while not working with them in Texas, was also on the hunt for land. Steve and his wife Candy found a classified ad in Mother Eather News for a parcel of land in the far northern reaches of New York. It was exactly what they all were looking for, and by fall of 1975 the Murtaugh Hill Community was well on its way to becoming the beautiful and beloved place we know today. Richard and Anne selected a site furthest from the paved road and there Richard built them a stunning octagonal log home on a traditional masonry foundation. In December of 1976 Richard celebrated the birth of his first daughter, Chelsea. The years on Murtaugh Hill were some of the most meaningful and valued years of Rich's life. He always recalled these times very fondly, it was clear that these years made a deep and lasting impact in his life.

The 1980's held many changes for Richard. He and Anne separated and eventually divorced, but Rich always tried to be the best father he could be to Dana and Chelsea. Chris, Richard's mother, moved to the North Country as well, purchasing property on Chazy Lake, where Richard built her an A frame house and rental house next door. In 1987, while both working at the San Moritz in Lake Placid, Richard met Lorraine Kemf, who would be second and final wife. It was through Lorraine that Richard met Jim Wilson, who would become one of his closest friends, almost more like brothers than mere friends. Rich's mother generously gave the new couple the property she intended to rent, and Richard built a beautiful prow-front log home there for his future second wife. In January of 1989 Lorraine gave Richard his younger daughter, Meghan, and on May Day the couple married at their home on Chazy Lake. During this time Richard was primarily self employed building custom log homes and repairing and remodeling existing homes across the North Country.

The 1990's continued the pattern of change in Rich's life. In 1994 Lorraine and Richard moved to Florida, where they would live until 1999. Richard did not enjoy living in Florida as much the second time. But it did allow him to transition his career from building and repairing houses to building and repairing the ships and boats he had loved since childhood. He also appreciated the time getting to know his wife's family, most of whom lived within a half an hour's drive of their home in Ormond Beach By-The-Sea. He was a valued member of the family and helped his sisters-in-law with repairs and remodelings of their homes and businesses. He did truly enjoy getting to watch Space Shuttle launches, he had always been a big fan of science fiction, so getting to see live NASA launches was one of the benefits of living Florida for him. A particularly fond memory of his was watching John Glenn go into space the second time, and enjoying the festivities of a historic launch on Cape Canaveral Beach with Lorraine and Meghan.

In 1999 Richard moved his family back to the home he had built on Chazy Lake. Over the next year Richard pursued training programs at Wooden Boat School in Maine and Camp Sagamore on Raquette Lake, NY to learn and develop his skills and techniques for building and repairing wooden boats. In 2000 he purchased property that included a large barn across from the Chateaugay Lake Boat Launch and opened Lakeside Boatworks, which he would operate for the next decade. Richard won many awards for his careful restorations of antique guideboats and canoes, and earned many accolades and recognition for his work and knowledge. Richard was considered an expert on the identification and restoration of the iconic Bellows Boats native to Chateaugay Lake, which endeared him to the community there. Lakeside Boatworks was even a venue for Heritage Day one year, hosting lectures on the history of Bellows Boats and demonstrations on proper maintenance and repair techniques for wooden craft. In his free time in these year Richard embraced his Scottish heritage and loved attending Celtic festivals with Lorraine and Meghan. The family could often be found somewhere in the Northeast at a festival or attending local shows of their favorite Celtic bands, Enter The Haggis and Great Big Sea. But far and away the biggest highlights of this decade were seeing his two oldest children both get married and begin their own families.

In the 2010's Richard semi-retired, selling his business property on Chateaugay Lake, but still taking limited restoration work in a small shop he built next to his home on Chazy Lake, and later making wooden outdoor furniture and garden decorations. Always a music fan, Richard and Lorraine could often be found attending local concerts and other community events, as well as gatherings at the homes of their friends, especially in the summer months. In this time he focused on friends and family, often spending time with his dear friend Jim Wilson, helping him with many improvements and repairs on his historic home and property in Schuyler Falls. Richard also deeply valued these years that he got to spend with his mother, helping take care of her in her old age. Richard considered himself immensely blessed to have a parent that lived to 103.

The one thing that Richard loved and valued the most throughout his life was the time he got to spend with his children and later his grandchildren. Some of his favorite times in his life were when all of his children and grandchildren were together, you could tell these times brought him true happiness. He would joyously prepare for visits and loved providing his family with a beautiful space to enjoy together.

Richard will be deeply missed, he was a kind and gentle soul, generous to a fault, who could always be counted on to bring his unique knowledge and perspective to help friends and family alike. His soft-spoken love and wry sense of humor will be missed the most. He always knew what to say to bring a smile to your face, even on the darkest days. His loving, calm, knowledgeable presence will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife Lorraine Kemf McIntosh, his first wife Anne Miller Robertson, his sister Jean McIntosh, his children: Dana McIntosh (and his wife Naima), Chelsea Bowie (and her husband Doug), and Meghan McIntosh, and his seven grandchildren: Brandon Bowie (and his wife Erin), Aria McIntosh, Cade McIntosh, Leila McIntosh, Aaron Bowie, Ellie Bowie, and Mira McIntosh; and of course many friends and acquaintances whose lives he touched through his long and colorful life.

There is a Celebration of Life being planned for this summer at Richard's home on Chazy Lake, please contact his daughter, Meghan McIntosh for details mcintoshmeghan9@gmail.com

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