Rev. Richard John Messana

July 3, 1954 - October 20, 2020

Rev. Richard John Messana, 66, of Gorham, Maine passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Rick was born on July 3, 1954 in Boston, Massachusetts to Salvatore J. and Eva (Pasquale) Messana. Rick was a graduate of Boston Technical High School in Boston, MA and continued his education at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA and also Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, CO. He married Valerie (Carpenter) Messana on June 7, 1975 and they enjoyed 45 years of marriage together. Rick was an ordained American Baptist Pastor for 40 years and served American Baptist churches in Maine, first as a Youth Pastor at Military Street Baptist Church in Houlton, and also at First Baptist Church in Fairfield. He pastored the South Penobscot Baptist Church in Penobscot, the Charleston United Baptist Church in Charleston, the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Hollis, the North Livermore Baptist Church in Livermore, and the First Baptist Church of Brooklin, Maine, retiring in September of 2019. Rick was a vibrant and charismatic man who loved life! He was part of a large extended Italian-American family, whom he loved and cherished. He had a great love of pastoring, a special love for working with teens, a love of music, and of playing various roles in community theatres around the state, especially being well known for hisfavorite role as “Tevye” from Fiddler on the Roof. He was passionate in his love of the Boston Red Sox! He also was a wonderful cook and loved sharing dishes from his Italian heritage with his family and friends! He was a wonderful husband, father, and Papa to his 5 grandchildren (soon to be 6 grandchildren, coming in December). Rick is survived by his wife of 45 years, Valerie (Carpenter) Messana of Gorham; sons, David Messana and his wife, Michelle of South Portland, Jonathan Messana and his wife, Sarah of Portland; and daughter, Kristin (Messana) Ciampa and her husband, David of Gorham; his five precious grandchildren, Samuel Messana, Lucy Ciampa, Madelyn Messana, Oscar Messana, and Evangeline Ciampa. Rick was also very excited about the impending arrival of his 6th grandchild to be born in December to son Jonathan and wife Sarah, baby Jude Richard Messana! Rick is also survived by his brother, John “Jay” Messana and his wife, Elizabeth, and sons, William and Benjamin of Easton, MA; his father-in-law, Harold Carpenter of Falmouth; his brother-in-law, Elliott Carpenter of Glastonbury, CT; and his brother-in-law, Chris Carpenter and his wife, Mitzi; and son, Zachary of Suffolk, VA. He is also survived by very special lifelong friends, Stephen Carnahan and wife, Judith Taylor of Auburn, Maine; and their children, Sarah Carnahan and Liam Carnahan. Other survivors include aunts, uncles, and many cousins. In addition to his parents, Rick was pre-deceased by his mother-in-law, Wilma Carpenter; and his sister-in-law, Judy Carpenter. There will be a celebration of Rick’s life held 2:30 P.M., Sunday, November 1, 2020, at Summit Community Church, 368 Gorham Rd., Scarborough, Maine. With respect to COVID restrictions and state of Maine mandates, this will be an outdoor service with social distancing observed (please dress warm). Masks will be required. RSVPs will also be required in order to comply with COVID protocols. For anyone not able to attend, there will be a livestream of the service. In case of inclement weather, there will be an indoor, socially distant plan implemented. To RSVP, respond to [email protected] or visit Valerie Messana’s Facebook page. Those who would like to honor Rick's memory are encouraged to donate to China Lake Baptist Camp, Camper Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 6149, China, ME 04358 or the Monmouth Community Players, Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 359, Monmouth, ME 04259