Lancaster, NH — Richard Cadieux, 76 of Lancaster passed away on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, at home surrounded by family. Richard “Rick” Neal Cadieux, also known by his HAM radio call sign W1QR and affectionately as Noah, was born on January 7, 1950, to Elizabeth and Arthur Cadieux. He grew up in Marlborough, Massachusetts, alongside his brothers Arthur and Douglas, enjoying a quintessential 1950s childhood reminiscent of Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver.

Rick was active in the Boy Scouts and spent countless hours at the local junkyard, where he and his brothers taught themselves to repair everything from toasters to cars to radios. After breaking each arm more than five times during adolescence, he often found himself stuck indoors—where he discovered HAM radio, a passion that stayed with him throughout his life.

He graduated from Marlborough High School in 1968 and proudly attended every reunion. Rick went on to study electronic engineering technology at the University of Lowell and Wentworth Institute of Technology. By 1982, he had patented and begun selling his first invention, The Circuit Sounder, launching a lifetime of creativity and innovation.

Rick worked for many years as a photovoltaic engineer at MIT/Lincoln Laboratories in Lexington, MA traveling the globe in the 1980s to teach communities how to harness solar energy. In 1988, he moved his family to the White Mountains to run the Red Sleigh, a small resort in West Campton. For the next decade, he managed the property with his wide-ranging skills in plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, painting, landscaping, marketing, and customer service. He also immersed himself in the community, volunteering weekly at Meals for Many and helping grow the local Chamber of Commerce into a thriving organization.

With more space to tinker, Rick restored and sold  cars—over 100 in his lifetime. Among his favorites were a 1926 Chevy and a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite, both of which he proudly drove in parades and car shows.

Rick later lived in Warren, Wentworth, and finally Lancaster, where he married the love of his life, Camilla Cadieux, in 2007. His life was full of music, painting, volunteering, circle dancing, writing, acting, tinkering, and hiking. A devoted Beach Boys superfan, he attended more than 100 concerts and enjoyed backstage access to the last 25, forming personal connections with the band members. Even in his final days, he harmonized along to their melodies.

Another beloved role was his alter ego—Santa Claus—bringing joy to residents at the local nursing home where he volunteered during retirement.

Rick loved Moxie, Superman, lemon meringue pie, It’s a Wonderful Life, Halloween costume contests, Quantum Leap, Neskaya Movement Arts Center, dance camps at Dancing Bones, and the Lancaster Fair. He was a devoted dad, stepdad, and granddad, sharing his skills generously and offering unwavering love and support. He adored his mother, Libby, and served as her primary caregiver for decades.

Rick is survived by his wife of 19 years, Camilla Cadieux, and their granddaughter, Alexandra Frable, both of Lancaster, NH; his daughter, Cindee Tanuma, her husband Matthew, and their children Amy and Andrew of Goffstown, NH; his son, Eric Cadieux of Marstons Mills, MA; his stepdaughter, Olivia Frable of Burlington, VT; and his stepson, Allyosha Frable of Park City, UT. He is also survived by his brother, Douglas Cadieux, and wife Debbie of Dade City, FL.

He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Elizabeth Cadieux; his brother, Arthur Cadieux Jr.; and his stepson, Misha Frable.

Visitation will be held from 10:30am to 11:30am on Saturday, May 9th at Bailey Funeral Home, 210 Main Street in Lancaster. A Funeral Service will follow starting at 11:30am. A celebration of life will follow at the Lancaster Congregational Church. In honor of Rick’s joyful spirit and lifelong love of the Beach Boys, guests are invited to wear Hawaiian shirts or luau attire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Community Caregivers of Greater Derry, 6 West Broadway, Unit 6, Derry, NH 03038