Enrico F. Conti

Enrico Conti, whose hands in life shaped the wooden contours of both life-sized and miniature boats, has set sail to embark on his final voyage. At age 89, Rico died peacefully on Sunday, February 25th, 2024 at the Kline Hospice Center in Mt. Airy, Maryland, surrounded by the love of his wife and all seven of his children.

Born in Waterville, Maine, to 1st generation Italian immigrants, Rico was a graduate of Waterville High School in Maine, where he met his wife Wilma to begin their 69-year marriage together. 

While steadily adding children, Rico charted a course that would lead him through the halls of the University of Maine and the University of Rochester, where he earned his master's degree in radiological physics, followed by a Fellowship at Harvard. Following that, Enrico worked for many years as a nuclear health physicist at the Atomic Energy Commission (now NRC) and two other private companies.

His academic journey was not just one of the mind, but of the soul, as he delved deeply into theological studies, navigating the complex waters of faith and spirituality with the same precision and care he applied to his beloved boats.

Enrico's passion for wooden boats was not merely a hobby, but a reflection of his philosophy of life. Each vessel he crafted was a testament to his belief in taking the time to do things right, to pay attention to the smallest of details, and to create something enduring and beautiful. 

In his later years, as he turned from building full sized to model-sized boats, this philosophy remained unchanged. He meticulously constructed a fleet of miniature masterpieces, one for each of his seven children, passing on to them not just a tangible heirloom, but a piece of his soul and a lesson in patience, precision, and love.

When not with his family, Rico enjoyed canoeing on quiet waters, listening to the steady swish of his paddle and the occasional call of a loon from beyond.

Enrico's legacy is not just in the boats that bear his touch or the books that filled his shelves. It is in the laughter-filled summers at their house in Maine, the quiet winter evenings making puzzles with Wilma in their cottage at the Frederick Homewood Retirement Center, and the countless moments of joy, challenge, and triumph shared with his beloved Wilma, seven children, 20 grandkids, and 19 great grandkids. 

His was a life lived with purpose, passion, and a deep understanding of the importance of leaving something meaningful behind.

As we bid farewell to Enrico Conti, we are reminded of the gentle power of a life well-lived. He showed us that it's not just about the destination but the beauty we create and the love we share along the journey. Rico’s final departure leaves us with heavy hearts, but also with a treasure trove of memories and lessons that will continue to guide and inspire us as we navigate the waters of our own lives.

In addition to his wife, Wilma Conti, he is survived by his seven children: Lisa Shannon, Debbie Bingham, Linda Conti, Peter Conti, John Conti, Paul Conti, and Matthew Conti. He was preceded in death by his parents, Enrico and Iva Conti, and a sister, Rita Murdock. 

In the wake of his passing, we find comfort in the knowledge that Enrico set sail into the horizon, leaving behind a wake of beauty, strength, and love that will ripple through generations to come.

Donations in Enrico Conti’s memory can be made to the City of Frederick Maryland Food Bank. 

The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 29 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, with a funeral service to begin at 10:30 a.m.