BY CRAIG CROSBY

Staff Writer

Les Wilkinson was fresh out of law school in San Diego when he first met Richard Schade. Wilkinson and his wife were living in an unheated cabin. It was the fall of 1981, the weather was cold, and so was Wilkinson's search for employment.

But Schade, a partner at a local law firm, offered Wilkinson a job and the two worked together nearly every day until Schade's retirement 2003.

"He was perfectly consistent and honest," said Wilkinson, who followed Schade as a partner at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson. "He gave me a moral compass that, when I use it, it always helps me."

Schade had battled Lewy Body Disease, a form of dementia, since his retirement. That struggle ended Nov. 24 when Schade passed away with his family by his side. He was 69.

Schade is perhaps best known in the community for his instrumental role in creating the Great Kennebec River Whatever Race and the Capital Area Recreational Association athletic facilities off Piggery Road in Augusta, not to mention his service to numerous boards and committees.

But for all of his public service, those who knew him will always picture Schade cheering at one of his children's events (he never missed one, they say), or playing Santa Claus at family gatherings, or scouting opponents for the Cony High School football team.

"We all had our football stories," recalled Allen Ryan, who accompanied Schade on those scouting trips. "We told the same stories year after year going to games. We'll never forget the stories and never forget the fun."

Ryan had so much confidence in Schade's legal ability, he hired Schade to represent him during the biggest transaction of Allen's professional life, selling NorthCenter Foodservice.

Yet Ryan believes Schade's greatest legacy is his care for others and his willingness to sacrifice to make others around him better.

"He really knew how to set priorities correctly," Ryan said. "He knew family was always first. He had his priorities right with his family and he had it right with the law."

"He was a softy as far as his heart is concerned, but he was a tough competitor," said Bill Perry, whose 40-year friendship with Schade got even stronger when Perry's son married Schade's daughter nearly 20 years ago.

"After that I started referring to Dick as my lawyer-in-law," Perry joked.

Schade confided in Perry one day just before his retirement that he was giving up his law license for fear the Lewy Body Disease, which had already started its attack, would lead him to make a mistake on a client's case. Schade would not risk doing less than everything for his clients.

"He was probably the most principled man I know," Perry said. "If he said he'd do something, it would get done."

Perry was president of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce in the early 1980s during the organizational stages of what would become known as the Great Kennebec River Whatever Race.

Schade, who was a member of the chamber board, was a driving force behind the race, which has become a multi-day festival drawing large crowds to the entire region.

"He always provided very wise counsel," Perry said of Schade. "He thought things through very well and he was cautious."

Schade brought that same wisdom to bear during the development of the CARA facilities, which became one of his most treasured projects. Schade was the founding treasurer, provided legal work and lobbied the legislature to allow the state to enter into long leases.

"I'd be surprised if there's anybody in this city that's been involved in volunteerism that doesn't know Dick," Perry said. "He's been a staple."

Peter Thompson, president and chief executive officer of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, has nearly 40 years of shared service with Schade, but the biggest smiles come when Thompson thinks about Schade's humor during poker games, or the time Schade was learning to be a gourmet cook and invited Thompson's family for a meal. Schade brought the same attention to his cooking as he did his law practice and community service.

"He was a lifelong learner in many areas," Thompson said. "This was an expression of that; trying to do something else and doing it well."

The energy Schade put into his family and work also went into fun. Warren Winslow, who was a year behind Schade at Deering High School in Portland and played on the same football team -- Schade was an offensive lineman -- remembers Schade playing Santa Claus at family parties over several Christmases.

"He must have done it for 10 years," Winslow said. "At first the kids had no idea it was him, then the kids got older and they figured it out. At the end everyone knew who it was and they all looked forward to him coming. It was one of the best memories I have of Dick."

"He was a very private guy in some ways and very humble," Wilkinson said. "He would not broadcast his successes quickly or easily. He was very comfortable with who he was. I think he would be embarrassed to death about his story in the newspaper."

Wilkinson has no favorite memory of Schade. Choosing any would leave an entirely incomplete image.

"It's a collage for me," Wilkinson said. "I loved him. I don't have one image. He was my mentor. He was my friend. He was my partner. I had his back on anything and everything I could do for him. He was a tough guy with a big compassionate heart. I'm not sure if he knew how many and how much people thought of him."

Craig Crosby -- 623-3811 ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com