We are sad to announce the unexpected passing of Rick Bates, 67, on Nov. 19, 2025 at his home on Maple Street. Rick was born in Jacksonville, FL on August 3, 1958 the son of Roy & Joanne Bates. He grew up on College Hill in Woodstock in the home his parents built. He attended Woodstock Schools graduating in the class of 1976. He was an athlete and played football, baseball, and basketball. He attended UVM & graduated from VT Technical School in Randolph, VT in 1980. He moved to Dallas, Texas. After 10 years he moved back to the mountains of Vermont and eventually went to work for Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab (CRREL) in Hanover, N.H., spending 22 years there.
Rick bought the Bates family home on Maple Street and built a log cabin at Gray Camp in Barnard, where he was a 4th generation member and was treasurer for 10 years. Rick loved being outdoors and had many projects going. He enjoyed gardening and every year spent many hours growing tomatoes and flowers. The result being many years of making piccalilli and tomato sauce which he shared with many.
He was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys. He loved football and was very serious about Fantasy Football.
Rick is predeceased by his grandparents; Edwin and Vivian Bates, Roy and Lucille Snow, and his uncle Peter Hall. He is survived by his parents Roy and Joanne Bates, two brothers; Randall and Timothy (Angela) Bates, six nephews and nieces; Jordan, Victoria, Vivian, Maika, Joseph, and Ana, his aunts; Sharon Hall, Jean (Bruce) Maynes, and Jane (Michael) McGee, many special friends and especially his dog “Sirius” his buddy.
A service to celebrate Rick will be held outside in the spring of 2026. Please remember Rick by planting tomatoes, or flowers, or a tree.
An online guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com.
