05/27/2026
Congratulations Deputy Chief Mary Rich, who is working her last shift today, retiring after 32 years of service to the Town of New Gloucester. Deputy Rich joined in 1994, quickly rising through the ranks, serving as Deputy Chief of EMS since 2003.
Deputy Rich is a leader, a skilled EMS provider, and a calm presence. She is a decorated member: a pink stork pin for delivering a baby girl in the field, multiple commendations for life saving care, and numerous accolades voted on by her peers. She would be the last person to tell you about all of that, though. She is humble, mission focused, and team oriented.
Her leadership in EMS spans many changes in our Department's history. The expansion of the role EMS plays in our community has grown exponentially over her 32 years. Improved technology, increased education, a new station, new apparatus, a transporting ambulance. Throughout all of those changes, Deputy Rich always maintained the core values instilled in her from the founding members of the rescue. Community service and compassionate care were the constants that were above everything else in this line of work.
She has been the glue that keeps this Department together. She never gave up when things were hard, she never wavered when faced with a challenge, and she never forgot who we serve. Deputy Rich leaves a legacy and a void that will be impossible to fill, but her impact will continue to move our Department forward and keep us focused on the task at hand.
Thank you Deputy Rich for the laughs, memories, support, and kitchen table banter. Thank you for making sure those who have come before us are remembered. Thank you for always showing up for the public and our members. Thank you for not forgetting where you came from. And most importantly, thank you for being humble and kind.
We will miss you, but we know you'll still visit often. Enjoy your well deserved retirement.
