Richard Dean Hordon

RICHARD DEAN HORDON beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home November 1, 2022 on his 79th surrounded by his loving family.  Dick was born in Boston, MA to the late Richard and Alice (Deslauriers) Hordon Austin.  His early years were spent in Wakefield, MA before moving to Melrose, MA where he graduated with the Class of 1961.  After high school he graduated from East Coast Aero Technical School and received his A&P license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  He worked briefly at the Kamman Helicopter Company, Hartford, CT.

In the summer of 1963 what began as a casual summer job at the Plum Island Airport, Newburyport would become a life-long career. That summer he met a Newburyport girl and in 1966, on her 21st birthday, he married Kathleen “Kathy” (Mason) Hordon.

In April 1966, Dick and two friends bought the Plum Island Airport from the original owner and formed Air Plum Island, Inc. (1966-2000). He bought out the two partners and for the next 35 years built the small airport into one of the most well-known and well-loved airports in the Northeast. He flew banners along the beaches in the summer with his 1929 Curtiss Travelair biplane. It was a family operation and Kathy and their two children worked alongside him every day.  Eventually Dick taught both of his children to fly at very young ages.

Dick’s exceptional maintenance and flying skills were well-known and as a result he was commissioned to fly in several motion pictures and commercials, and to completely reconstruct two Curtiss Travelair biplanes for the motion picture Nothing by Chance written by Richard Bach, narrated by Hugh Downs.

In 1981 Dick and Kathy purchased Four Star Aviation at the Lawrence Municipal Airport (1981-2019) and operated both businesses concurrently. Flight schools, maintenance, aviation fuel was offered at both businesses. The Lawrence business also provided jet fuel and concierge services to corporate clients. He imported and exported aircraft to and from Europe. He operated a Part 135 Charter business.  He owned a Cessna Aircraft dealership for which he received Excellence in Sales (1989-1993) from the Cessna Aircraft Company.  He was professionally educated in aircraft accident reconstruction and throughout his career he was often called upon as an expert witness in legal cases.

In 1984, Dick and a partner founded an aerial remote sensing business named Flight Landata, Inc. (1984-2008). Dick installed a large camera port in the bottom of the fuselage of his airplane for vertical imagery and mapping, He designed and developed an externally mounted stable platform for their three-camera systems.

His licenses include Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) and Inspector Authority (IA). He had 20,000 hours of flight time as Commercial, Instrument, Flight Instructor, Instrument Instructor, Multiengine Instructor, Commercial Glider, Seaplane and Rotor Wing. Over the years he has owned around 30 airplanes including tailwheel, single and multiengine, gliders and helicopters.

In the mid 1980’s he and a friend became interested in the sport of Skeleton Bobsledding. In winter Dick would fly them to Lake Placid, NY to practice the sport and compete.  They eventually became proficient and on behalf of the US Olympic Committee, competed against the European teams in Winterberg, Germany, Koenigssee, Bavaria, and Innsbruck, Austria.  They were members of the team which made the Skeleton Bobsled a recognized Olympic sport.

Dick loved gardening and working around his antique home.  He was a voracious reader. He had a great athletic ability and a tremendous sense of adventure.  He loved to ski, fish, fly fish, swim, scuba dive, race cars, race Skeleton sleds, hike and camp with family and friends.  The more challenging an activity, the better he liked it. He and his wife loved to travel anywhere, anytime, and they traveled extensively in the United States and Europe.  They owned property in Montana and vacationed there for over 35 years. Dick never tired of long road trips around the USA always on “blue highways”. He especially enjoyed winters with Kathy in their motorhome in Key West, FL with family and friends.

A devoted family man, Dick’s happiest times were spent with the people he loved the most, his wife, his two children and his four grandchildren.  He was extremely proud of all their accomplishments. He took great joy in attending all the children’s school and sporting events, Grandparents’ Days, graduations, and more.  He made it a priority to travel to all his grandsons’ hockey games, near or far.  Dick was truly loved and will be deeply missed by his family, many dear friends and business associates.

His association included the Massachusetts Airport Managers Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association Warbirds of America, Rotary International, Corvettes of Massachusetts – Autocross Race Car Driver, the Firehouse Performing Arts Center, US Bobsled Association Skeleton Team – Driver, L-19 Birddog Association, Newburyport Maritime Custom House Museum, Jaguar Club of New England. He served on the Newburyport Waterfront Commission during the Restoration of Newburyport and was a member of the Lawrence Airport Master Plan Committee.  He served multiple times as Delegate to the Massachusetts Republican Convention and was co-chair of the Newburyport Republican Committee.

Dick is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kathleen Mason Hordon, his son Richard E. Hordon (Kim), Hampton Falls, NH, their children Riley Kathleen Hordon and Richard J. Hordon, his daughter Hillary J. Mirageas (Jim), Newburyport, MA, their children Lt. Zachary J. Mirageas, USAF (Delaney), and Benjamin J. Mirageas, a brother Robin Hordon, brother-in-law Herbert MacDonald, nephew Ian MacDonald (Jasmine), their daughters, several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents Richard Hordon and Alice Austin, stepfather G. Warren Austin, his infant daughter, brother Ronald C. Hordon, sister-in-law Dorothy MacDonald, her daughter Katharine “Katy” MacDonald.

Family and friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday November 4, 2022 at the Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950. His Funeral Service will be held in the Funeral Home at 10:00 AM on Saturday November 5, 2022, followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery. THERE IS NO LONGER ANY PARKING AVAILABLE BEHIND THE FUNERAL HOME PER ORDER OF THE CITY OF NEWBURYPORT. 

For directions or to offer online condolences please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com

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