Rick Villaume

Rick Villaume of Peterborough completed his last hike on July 15, 2025. He was 69.

Born on July 4, 1956, in Charleston, SC, Rick was the son of the late Henry and Susette Villaume. His early childhood was spent in Peterborough, followed by the family’s move to Emmaus, PA, and, in 1969, the family returned to NH and settled in Bartlett.

Rick’s passion for cars and driving led him to Florida, where he supported himself with his career as a bricklayer and spent weekends as crew chief for a privateer driver at Daytona Speedway and numerous tracks around the country.

Rick worked his way through the University of Florida, again supporting himself by his masonry skills, graduating with a degree in Finance and Computer Science.

Rick was an avid skier from the day he learned to ski at Whit’s Tow in Peterborough in the early 1960s. GoRuck events became his passion later in life, and he loved to hike with his dogs for miles on weekends.

In addition to being a bricklayer and stone mason and a pit crew member at Daytona, he was a financial markets model-building wizard. He had a bone-dry sense of humor and a sharp wit.

Rick was predeceased by his first wife, Debra Sidebottom.

Rick was a gentleman in the true, old-fashioned sense. We will miss him dearly.

His devastated family includes his beloved wife, Pamela Hitchcock of Peterborough; his Goldens, Molly and Gulliver; his sister, Betsy Villaume (Ken MacLeod) of Hancock, NH; his brother, Peter Villaume (Laura) of Bartlett, NH; his nephew, Patrick Villaume of Easton, PA; his stepdaughter, Molly Howe of Bellingham, WA; cousins; and so very many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Travis Manion Foundation, PO Box 1485, Doylestown, PA 18901; https://www.travismanion.org/.

A celebration of Rick’s life and love will take place in September 2025.