By Mike Donoghue

BENNINGTON — State Sen. Richard “Dick” Sears, D-Bennington, passed away late Saturday night at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center a few days after being admitted, friends said Sunday morning.

Sears, 81, who had served 32 years in Montpelier, filed his nominating petitions for re-election by the deadline last week.

His wife, Beverly, 73, passed away last November after a long illness.

Dick Sears had battled skin cancer in recent years and took to wearing caps — often for his beloved Boston Red Sox and Bruins to cover his head — even when serving in the Statehouse. The cause of death was not announced.

Sears served as chair of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee and was a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

He also served on some joint committees with the House, including  Joint Fiscal Committee, the Joint Legislative Child Protection Oversight Committee, and as chair of the Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott was among the dignitaries to offer remembrances.

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Dick Sears,” Scott said Sunday morning.

“Senator Sears was already in the Senate when I arrived as a freshman in 2001. We served together for many years and I have always had a great deal of respect for him,” the Governor said.

“I appreciate his willingness to work across the aisle to get things done. Just this past session, he worked closely with my team to pass important public safety legislation,” he said.

“He was a true champion for Bennington county. And, as stubborn or gruff as he could be at times, he and I shared a love of golden retrievers — we both had them — which was something we could always bond over.

“This is an incredible loss for Vermont and the Senate and my heart goes out to Senator Sears’ family, friends and colleagues.”

Sears’ district seatmate, State Sen. Brian Campion, who has said he is not seeking re-election, offered the following thoughts:

“Dick loved representing Bennington County and took great pride in that honor for the 32 years he served as State Senator. He was one of the most effective leaders in the Senate and will be sorely missed,” Campion said in a prepared statement.

“Dick was also a dear friend and I will always remember his sense of humor, sense of justice and lifelong dedication to the service of others,” Campion said.

The death of Sears, the departure of Campion and the retirement for three other long-time serving Senators means there could be at least six new faces in the 30-seat chamber in January.  There were 11 new senators elected two years ago.

Sears was born in Framingham, Mass. and moved to Bennington in 1971. He worked in residential programs for troubled youth for over 35 years before retiring Jan. 1, 2006.

He was educated in schools in Ashland, Mass.; New Hampton School, New Hampton, N.H.; and the University of Vermont, with a BA degree in 1966. He was a member of Bennington Select Board, 1987-93 (chairman for four years) and Bennington Elks Lodge #567.

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth, D-Burlington, said “The Vermont Senate mourns the tragic loss of Senator Dick Sears who passed away over the weekend surrounded by family and long-time friends.

“Dick’s legacy is all but incalculable. Recognized nationally as one of America’s “most productive” legislators, he made judicial and corrections reform his personal mission. His background with residential treatment programs for justice-involved youth led him to pioneer both Vermont’s Raise the Age and Justice Reinvestment frameworks,” Baruth said.

“Bring to mind any major public safety, court reform or decriminalization initiative of the last thirty years, and chances are excellent that Dick Sears was the driving force behind it. And every pressing concern he had – for our state’s prosecutors, our public defenders, judges, police, for the accused and the addicted and the orphaned – Dick brought eventually to the Appropriations Committee, insisting that true justice requires resources, not lip service,” he said.

“An orphan himself, Dick came to wield great power in the Vermont Senate, but always on behalf of those society tends to forget and nearly always with marked success. He was a tireless advocate, and a fearsome negotiator. Much, much more will be said of Dick Sears than I can say in a short statement, but I will add that although in some ways we were unlikely friends and allies, I came to love him like a father and I will miss him like family. And I know many others throughout the state will feel this tremendous loss,” Baruth said.