Mr. Richard H. Turgeon

January 4, 1937 - August 25, 2020

Lebanon, NH Richard H. Turgeon, 83, a long-time resident of Claremont and recently Hanover, passed away August 25, 2020 after a long period of declining health. He was born in Claremont on January 4, 1937, the only child of the late Henry and Blanche (Lusignan) Turgeon. As a child he lived in Claremont and Lebanon. He did three of his four years of high school at Sacred Heart H. S. in Newport, VT, graduating in 1954. An inspirational art teacher there, Sr. Raphael, had encouraged his talents, and after graduation he attended the School of Practical Art in Boston and then the Traphagen School of Design in NYC to study practical and applied art. After his training, he started a career in the fabric manufacturing industry, working first as a Colorist, later as a Stylist and then Lead Designer. In 1972 he started his own successful design business, “Richard Turgeon Designs” in NYC, specializing in the design of custom wallcoverings and fabric. In 2010 Volumes I & II of his wallpaper and fabric design collection sample books were recognized as “significant” and were selected to be included in the permanent Collection of the Cooper-Hewitt/Smithsonian Institution archives. You can view many of his designs on-line searching under “Richard Turgeon Designs”. After returning to Claremont in the mid-80’s, he worked for himself and others in the antiques field and was active as part of the board of the Claremont Opera House. Later he treasured and enjoyed the six years he worked as a Surgical Waiting Room Receptionist at DHMC. He is survived by a small circle of first and second cousins in NH and Canada and by local friends as well as life-long friends in NYC, Boston, Nantucket and Florida. His ashes will be interred privately at St. Mary Cemetery (Claremont) next to his parents. Memorial donations may be made to the Sullivan County Humane Society, 14 Tremont Street, Claremont, NH 03743. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Roy Funeral Home and Cremation Service Claremont, NH.