South Woodstock, VT – Richard (Dick) Allan Lillien, 91, died Friday October 17, 2014, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont.
Born August 6, 1923, in Newark, New Jersey, a son of William and Blanche Ruth (Weinberg) Lillien, he and his family later moved to Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Lillien attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore before enlisting in the Army Air Force. He served during World War II, flying ten missions over Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge. Upon his discharge from active duty, he served in the Air Force Reserves for 27 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. For many years, he worked in sales for Mogul Corporation. He moved from Baltimore to South Woodstock, Vermont, where he has lived for most of the past 40 years. Woodstock area residents will remember him as an able salesman of real estate until his retirement.
Mr. Lillien loved South Woodstock and his many friends there. He was an active member and former president of the Green Mountain Horse Association, training, riding, and driving horses. He was a founder and president of VERDA (Vermont Equine Riding & Driving Association) and trained John Denver and his carriage horses so that the singer could drive his carriage on his wedding day. An excellent marksman, he enjoyed shooting sports as a member of the N.R.A. and as a member of the Precision Valley Fish and Game Association on whose board he served in Perkinsville, Vermont. It was through the association that he met Bonnie and Peter DuPrey. After Peter's death, he remained close with Bonnie, and continued to share holidays with her and her family. An all-around sportsman, he excelled at skiing and loved to fly planes, as well.
Mr. Lillien enjoyed attending the opera with his friend Gaynor Coassin and taking memoir-writing classes with his friend Margaret Edwards. Always a lover of animals, he owned not only talented horses, but devoted dogs throughout his life. His last great companion, a golden Lab named Dakota, died only six days before his own death.
He is survived by his two children: his daughter Leslie Lillien Levy with her husband, Richard, of Kent, Connecticut; and his son and namesake, Richard "Rick" Lillien, Jr., of Baltimore, Maryland; also by his granddaughter, Grace Jane Lillien, of Baltimore, as well as by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters, Grace Blumberg and Ethel Baker.
Service Info: A service and burial will take place in Baltimore. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society; Post Office Box 702; Brownsville, VT 05037.