Dennis Douglass Pinkham passed away on Jan. 28, 2020, in Zepherhills,  Florida with his wife Alison and his three sons by his side.

Dennis was born in Boothbay Harbor, Maine on May 12, 1942, the son of Kenneth L. and Grace Douglass Pinkham.

As a result of his father’s service in the U.S. Coast Guard, he began his education in the one-room schoolhouse on Monhegan Island, Maine. At the time there were eight students in the school and he  always remembered his one classmate, Carl Wincapaw. Dennis remembered those early years on the Island with great fondness, having learned to swim at Swim Beach, ice skate on the meadow, tobogan from the top of the lighthouse hill (nearly making it all the way to the Odom Brothers store) and in the winter would ride his bicycle in the corridor that connected the lighthouse to the light tower with the Faulkingham kids, children of the lighthouse keeper.

When the family moved back to Boothbay Harbor in the early 1950s he attended Boothbay Harbor schools.  Dennis graduated from Boothbay Region High School in the Class of 1960, the first class to attend all four years at the “new” high school. While there he played clarinet in the band and orchestra, participated in several clubs, and was a member of several winning baseball and basketball teams  He was particularly proud of having been a member of the 1958 undefeated state champion football team.

Dennis attended Farmington State Teachers College (UME Farmington), majoring in history. While there he met the love of his life, Alison Duckett. They were married on Feb. 1, 1964. Both of them received their degrees that spring and embarked on their teaching careers. Dennis taught at York, Pownal and Harpswell schools. He retired after teaching history, and drivers education, for several years at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham.

Along the way Dennis and Alison became the proud parents of sons Martin, Andrew and Derek. Dennis had a great love of family, history, sports, and travel. He was able to combine these loves into great adventures. One summer they visited several Civil War battleground sites and memorials. The information gathered on this trip was used in history classes, and helped him earn his Masters Degree from University of Maine Orono.

Dennis was a great baseball fan – he loved the New York Yankees – and the family went on a quest to visit every major league baseball stadium. He, brother Duane, and the boys also made a memorable trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

After the boys were grown, Dennis and Alison continued to travel. They wintered in Phoenix, Arizona, Gulf Shores, Alabama, and spent several winters in Corpus Christi, Texas and last wintered in Zepherhills, FL. Along with friends from Corpus Christi, they spent one summer touring Alaska. They returned to Texas by way of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they took part in the hot air balloon festival.

On their 50^th anniversary Dennis and Alison visited the one state they had not gotten to, Hawaii. A highlight of that trip for him was visiting the Arizona Memorial.

Dennis was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Alison of Norway, ME and Zepherhills, FL; His sons Martin (Brenda) of Auburn, ME; Andrew of South Paris, ME, and Derek (Janet) of Lexington, VA. He is also survived by his brother Duane and his wife Mary of Boothbay Harbor, ME; along with eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family hopes to have a celebration and remembrance of his life later this summer and will do their best to notify friends and family members when a date can be arranged.