The gavel drops on a life well-lived

NHLife — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:25:00 GMT

Some people cross your path and are never forgotten.

Dick Withington was one of those people. Dick was an auctioneer based out of Hillsboro. I met him one day at an estate auction in Hooksett. He was sitting in the crowd and welcomed me as I sat beside him. I had no idea who he was but the auctioneer did. He made a special announcement that the "Master" was among us and he pointed to the charming gentleman sitting next to me. Dick smiled, waved to everyone in the crowd, made a joke, and sat back to observe.

Withington, the Godfather of the gavel, died at the age of 90 on April 29. He was the kind of person that loved people and people loved him. He also lived to preserve history through auctioneering and the historic preservation of many buildings throughout the town of Hillsboro. He was funny and charming and he made you want to buy something. That is probably what made him the best: his character, which was a combination of integrity and wit. Dick always seemed to have a smile or a smirk on his face. He performed his auctions with flair, like he was up on stage and had to please his audience. That was something he never failed to do. In 1953, the Washington Post described Withington as a "witty, fascinating type" who could coax a bid on a box of buttons.

I later attended a few of Dick's auctions and watched him do his thing. It was mesmerizing to see the "Grand Master of the Auction Block" in action. He was always on top of his game under the big tent, as if coaxing bids from buyers was something he did with ease.

Withington was also a survivor. He lived with a cancer diagnosis looming over his head for more than 17 years. And through multiple operations, he always maintained an easy sense of humor. In July 2005, he held his first "funeral", a free concert that took place on Hillsborough Center's green that featured his beloved East Coast All-Stars, a Swing and Dixieland Jazz band that he had discovered in Florida. In 2007, he was given the grim prognosis: four weeks to live. Yet he still managed to call several auctions throughout the summer. A second "funeral" was planned for June 2008, more than a year after that dire prognosis. Instead, a memorial service will be held on June 5 at 2 p.m. at Smith Memorial Congregational Church in Hillsborough.

There is so much more I could say about this amazing person, but his life has been profiled in many articles and sadly, now in his obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/unionleader/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=109131255

Live Free and Blog : Auctioneers

The gavel drops on a life well-lived