Richard “Dicky” Booth

Richard Booth, 86, of Manchester VT, passed away at his home on January 22, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Richard was born on May 26, 1937, in Reno, Nevada to Cecile Dobson Booth. He spent his childhood with his mother and stepfather Arlington John Booth in New London, Connecticut. In 1955, directly out of high school, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Newport, RI. He was assigned to the USS Hale, a Fletcher Class Destroyer, as a signalman. Richard traveled the seas from the North Atlantic, to the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis, the Mediterranean, India, Japan and back across the Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1959. Richard was very proud of his service and had many stories to share of his travels and adventures with the Navy.

Shortly after his stint with the Navy, Richard went on a ski trip to Vermont and decided that Vermont was exactly where he wanted to be. He moved to the Mount Snow area in 1960 to become a ski bum and worked at Snow Lake Lodge in West Dover. During the early 60’s Richard also traveled to other locations to work, live and explore. These included southwest Florida, Aspen, Colorado and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But, he was always drawn back to Vermont. In 1964, at Snow Lake Lodge, he met Barbara D’Amato, a nurse from Boston taking a “gap year” to ski and work in Vermont. They were married in 1969.

In the spring of 1970, Richard took a fly fishing trip to Manchester, VT to test his fishing skills in the famous Battenkill River. He liked Manchester, a small town in a beautiful valley nestled between two mountain ranges, and bought a small house in the center of the town. Richard and Barbara moved their 8 month old daughter, Richard’s mother and grandmother, and their beloved dogs Charlie and Reggie, to Manchester in the fall of 1970. At the same time, he started work at (the former) Skyline Inn on top of Mount Equinox.

For most of his life, Richard was in the hospitality business, owning or managing various restaurants. But, his favorite employment of all, was working as direct support staff for Dill Driscoll and Susan McWhorter at Ignition, a marketing company for large corporations. This job allowed him to travel, often driving a Coach bus, for events such as the 2002 Winter Olympics Torch Relay and the Indy Racing League.

More than anything, Richard enjoyed being with his family. When his kids were young, he bought a Yellow Ford Econoline conversion van. For many years, he and his family would set off in the van during spring break and travel down the coast to Florida. Richard also coached Farm Team and Girl’s Softball in the local leagues. When his children married and had children their own, Richard loved large family dinners and holidays.

Richard’s favorite yearly event was Fourth of July at the Manchester Recreation Park, especially in the 80’s and 90’s, when the community celebration at the park was a full-day affair. His family would all be there, along with many of his good friends. He parked his yellow van in the best possible parking location and filled it with cold beverages and potato chips for all, and dry towels for his pool-rat children.

Richard is survived by his wife, Barbara D’Amato Booth; his daughters Bobbie Jean Booth and wife Sandra Hamm of Manchester, VT and Cynthia Booth and husband John Gage of Jamaica, VT; his son Jason Booth and wife Stina Booth of St Albans, VT; his granddaughters Azurah Booth-Gage, Marjon Booth-Gage, Celia Booth, Ada Booth and Josie Booth. He was predeceased by his mother Cecile Dobson Booth in 1987.

We would like to thank VNA and Hospice for their immense help and guidance during Richard’s illness. We could not have gotten through this without you. And a special thank you to Alex. We are so, so thankful to have had you as our nurse.

There will be a private family service and celebration of life during the coming spring. In lieu of flowers, those who would like to make a donation in Richard’s honor are invited to contribute to the VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region (vermontvisitingnurses.org).