Richard Bardwell Lyman Jr, (Dick) died at Norway Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Norway, Me., on Aug. 23, 2020.

Born in 1936 in New York City, the middle child of Dorothy (Gerrish) Lyman and Richard B. Lyman, Dick grew up in West Nyack, N.Y.

He graduated from Bowdoin College as a member of the ROTC program in 1957, served in the Army Transportation Corp until 1960, and in the reserves until 1964. He received his PhD from Harvard University and taught at Bowdoin College, Simmons College, and Brandeis University. He came to Simmons College, Boston, in 1967 as a medievalist and rose to professor, chair of the History Department, and director of the East Asian Studies Program before retiring in 1998. For the next 10 years, he taught Modern Japanese History at Brandeis. He lived in Sweden, Me., during vacations from 1975 and full-time since 2011.

Dick loved to learn and his interests took him in many directions. A trip to Japan in 1988 inspired him to learn Japanese and earn a fellowship to spend a semester reading Japanese literature and history. For three years, he joined Simmons students learning Japanese and worrying just as much as other students about quizzes and exams. For the last 15 years of his career, he taught courses in Japanese history.

His other love was local history. He wrote several articles on the history of towns in central Massachusetts, and put much energy into exploring the local history of Sweden, Me., and its environs. He founded the Sweden Historical Society in 1978 and studied the area’s geology, history, and people from the Ice Age to the present. Dick loved to share his findings in Sweden talks and walks each summer, which eventually evolved into Sweden Days, held annually during the first weekend in August. He wrote, illustrated, and printed his talks, which he gave to anyone for a contribution to the Historical Society.

Dick loved to travel and incorporated his experiences in Japan, China, and Vietnam into his teaching, making history real with photos and personal stories. After retirement, he and his wife took bicycle trips to Europe, and he became a member of “Bears on Bikes” to raise scholarship money for Bowdoin College for his 45th, 50th, 55th, and 60th reunions. He was especially delighted that one of his sons and a grandson attended Bowdoin, graduating 30 and 60 years after he did.

He was a wordsmith and excelled in telling puns, jokes, and funny stories. He would catch others by surprise when he said that he knew all languages, but he actually did study Latin, French, German, medieval Latin, and Japanese.

Dick is survived by Kathleen, his wife of 48 years; his son, Richard Jeffrey Lyman and his wife, Leslie, of Beverly Farms Mass.; and his stepson, Jonathan Graves of Astoria, Ore.; as well as six grandchildren, of whom he was exceedingly proud. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and former students who have kept in touch with him over the years.

A celebration of his life is planned for the summer of 2021, provided there is an effective Covid-19 vaccine.

In lieu of owers, please contribute to one of Dick’s cherished organizations: Sweden Historical Society, 147 Bridgton Road, Sweden ME 04040 or Bowdoin College, 85 Federal St., Brunswick ME 04011.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 8 Elm Street, Bridgton. Memories and condolences may be sent to www.chandlerfunerals.com