As 2024 draws to a close let’s take a moment to remember some of those we’ve lost over the last year and recall a bit of what they contributed to the Wiscasset-area community.

Evelyn Louise Hanson of Wiscasset was 93 when she passed away on Nov. 4. A graduate of the former Wiscasset Academy, Mrs. Hanson is remembered for her many years spent as administrative assistant at Wiscasset High School. From 1968 until her retirement in 1991 she greeted students, staff members and visitors with a friendly smile followed by, “How may I help you?” She worked with a number of principals, the longest being the late William Cumming who resided with his family on Churchill Street, Wiscasset. Mrs. Hanson could offer words of encouragement, or disapproval if the situation required with equal alacrity, which earned her respect and admiration from generations of young people and her peers. In lieu of flowers Mrs. Hanson requested contributions be made to a Scholarship Fund at Wiscasset Middle High School, 272 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset, ME 04578.

Linda Winterberg of Wiscasset passed away early on the morning of Nov. 6; she was 81. Mrs. Winterberg was a longtime member of Wiscasset’s First Congregational Church. She sang in its choir, was a member of the Organ Society and helped run Summerfest, the annual fair.  She belonged to Garden Club of Wiscasset, Lincoln County Historical Association, Wiscasset Female Charitable Society and Wiscasset Yacht Club. She was kind, soft-spoken and welcoming. I remember her best as a devoted supporter of Wiscasset Public Library and the Friends of the Library. If I recall correctly, she served as a past trustee president and secretary for both non-profit groups. Linda along with the late Katharine Martin-Savage helped launch the library’s popular Bands for Books celebration, now an annual fundraising event. Her kindness and wisdom will be greatly missed.

Convenience store owner Mike Kelley rarely, if ever, turned down a request for a donation. His generosity to Wiscasset schools, first responders, churches and community organizations was nearly unmatched. Mike was always willing to support a worthy cause. Born in 1938 on the family farm in Pittston, Mike Kelley was one of 11 children. His education began in a one-room schoolhouse; he later graduated from the former Bridge Academy in Dresden. Mike’s business career began in a roadside produce stand he opened near his Pittston home. In 1971, he opened Mike’s Log Cabin, a general store on Gardiner Road, Wiscasset, adding a kitchen and dining area where locals gathered to share the news. Mike’s was the place kids headed to first on Halloween night. Dressed in his own Halloween costume Mike gave away hundreds of grab bags filled with goodies to trick-or-treaters. Mike could be counted on to loan his deli scales to Wiscasset firemen for their annual Ice Fishing Derby and donate prizes for the raffle drawing. Mike sold the Log Cabin in 1995 he passed away at age 86 on Oct. 10.

Eugene Stover of Wiscasset passed away May 19, at age 96. For 47 years he was employed at Wiscasset High School teaching generations of students phys. ed. and driver’s ed. Along with coaching baseball and other sports Mr. Stover served as athletic director and the high school’s assistant principal. After he retired in 2000 at age 72, Mr. Stover served five, three-year terms on the Wiscasset School Committee, several as its chairman. Mr. Stover was well-liked and respected as an educator and mentor, so much in fact that the gymnasium at Wiscasset Middle High School was fittingly named in his honor. Mr. Stover didn’t graduate from Wiscasset schools, he earned his high school diploma at Boothbay. This didn’t stop the Wiscasset’s alumni from making Mr. Stover an honorary member. Memorial donations in Eugene Stover’s memory may be made to the Wiscasset Alumni Association.

We lost Tim Flanagan of Wiscasset just recently on Dec. 6, and what a heart-felt loss that was to his family and many friends. Teacher, coach, mentor and overall wonderful human being. It’s hard to put into words just how many young lives Mr. Flanagan touched and had a positive influence on. Tim devoted most of his working career to teaching math at Wiscasset High School from 1977 to 2017. Along the way he coached the boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams along with the high school’s cross-country and golf teams. He led the high school’s math team, and won at least one state competition. Coach Flanagan is fondly remembered for leading the 1990-91 varsity boys’ basketball team to their first state C championship with a dramatic 76-73 victory over Calais High School. It seemed like just about everyone in town made their way to Bangor Auditorium that wintery night to watch the game and cheer for WHS. Tim had a life-long passion for the game of golf and continued playing with his sons, grandchildren and many friends long after he retired from teaching. Mr. Flanagan always seemed to have a smile for everyone; he was 78 when he passed away on Dec. 6. Between 300 and 400 people including many former students turned out for his memorial service Dec. 14 held very appropriately in Stover Auditorium at Wiscasset Middle High School. 

In August we lost Dean Shea, a Wiscasset native and former high school English teacher who I wrote about in an earlier column. Dean was quite an athlete in both high school and college. He went to Colby in Waterville on an athletic scholarship. In the 1950s during his time at Wiscasset High School, Dean was a five-time state champion in cross-country and track and field. He also lettered in basketball and baseball. At Schenck High School in East Millinocket, where he taught, Dean coached cross country, basketball and baseball. Like his brother-in-law, Tim Flanagan, Mr. Shea, too, touched many young lives in a positive and meaningful way. Dean was 84 when he passed. 

Robert Fairfield Sr., 91, died on April 10. Although born in Augusta, “Bobby," as he preferred, spent most of his life in Wiscasset where he grew up. A graduate of Wiscasset Academy in 1950 he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In the 1970s Bobby and his wife Kay opened Wiscasset General Store on the corner of Gardiner Road and Hooper Street. After selling the store in the 1980s they opened a restaurant next door they called the Village Café. Later in their working careers the Fairfields prepared dinners for Sagadahoc and Lincoln County “Meals on Wheels," a program for homebound seniors and individuals unable to prepare meals for themselves. In 2009 Bobby and I served on the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen together. I miss his wisdom and wonderful sense of humor. 

Another notable passing was Arlene Averill Steen, 89, of Alna whom we lost in February. A familiar face behind the register, or in the aisles at Ames True Value, “Gram” as she was fondly called worked alongside her three sons, Wayne, Jeff and Steven Averill and her grandchildren. Arlene’s parents, Dan and Dot Ames, started the family business that originally sold ag products in a warehouse downtown alongside the old Wiscasset bridge. After the building burned down in 1969 the business moved to Route One reopening as Ames Supply; it’s now Ames True Value and still run by the Averill family. Arlene had a wonderful sense of humor and bright smile. She was blessed with a remarkable memory and greeted many of her customers by their first name. In lieu of flowers she asked donations be given to Wiscasset Community Center. The Averill family has been very generous over the years in lending their financial support to Wiscasset schools, first responders and many Wiscasset-area non-profit organizations. They frequently lend their store’s floor space to the Scouts, Masons and church groups for fundraising events. 

For 43 years Sarah Heald owned and operated Sarah’s Café, a business she started in Boothbay Harbor around 1980 and later moved to Bath before finding a home here in Wiscasset. Her restaurant on the corner of Main and Water streets was often the place where high and junior high school sports teams gathered to celebrate following a season’s end. Sarah fed first responders on call during severe storms and lent her financial support to many community groups. She hired dozens of young people over the years where they gained valuable work experience and formed meaningful friendships. Sarah resided in Georgetown, she was 67 when she passed away in August. 

I consider myself fortunate to have known these remarkable individuals. Each of them, in their own unique way, contributed to making our community a better place for future generations of Wiscasseters. We can best honor their memories by showing kindness and respect towards one another just as they did. May they rest in peace.  

Phil Di Vece earned a B.A. in journalism studies from Colorado State University and an M.A. in journalism at the University of South Florida. He is the author of three Wiscasset books and is a frequent news contributor to the Boothbay Register-Wiscasset Newspaper. He resides in Wiscasset. Contact him at pdivece@roadrunner.com