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Marguerite S. Rafter
2005-09-15
Marguerite Spilsbury Rafter passed away quietly with her family in attendance at her home in Wiscasset on Friday, September 9.
Born on May 12, 1917, in Pittsburgh, Penn. to Maria and Hugh Spilsbury, she spent her childhood in Garden City, N.Y. and in Cranford, N.J. She was a direct lineal descendant of Jose Maria Castro Madriz, the first President of Costa Rica, and especially enjoyed visiting her Costa Rican family during her extensive travels.
Following her graduation from Cranford High School in 1936, she attended Smith College, graduating in 1940. She met her future husband John Grant Rafter while doing her graduate work at the Harvard School of Design.
They were married on February 21, 1941, residing briefly in Burlington, Vt. while Mr. Rafter was a flight instructor and a pilot for Northeast Airways. They then moved to Long Island, N.Y., where they raised their four children and he flew for Pan American Airways, a position he held for 29 years.
In Manhasset, N.Y., Mrs. Rafter began her lifelong commitment to community service. She was the President of the County Board of Girl Scouts for three years of her five-year membership; during that time, she also served on the Manhasset School Committee Association.
In 1957, Mr. and Mrs. Rafter purchased Bradford House in Wiscasset, Bradford House was adjacent to Mr. Rafter's ancestral home, and had recently suffered severe fire damage. While renovating Bradford House, her interest in historic preservation grew.
Becoming a year-round resident of Wiscasset in the early 1970s, she served as the Director of the Lincoln County Historical Association from 1970 to 1973, and was an exceptionally active member for 35 years. She served on the Wiscasset Planning Board Chairman for seven years; Chairman of the Wiscasset Land Use Committee for 17 years; she was a Charter and Sustaining Member of the Wiscasset Garden Club, and served two terms as President; she was Vice-President of the Friends of the Wiscasset Library; a member of Friends of the Morris Farm; she attended St Philips Episcopal Church, supplying flower arrangements for many years; she volunteered at Miles Memorial Hospital, and was a member of the Hospital League.
Mrs. Rafter was a member of the Wiscasset Female Charitable Society and the Wiscasset Yacht Club. She served on the Wiscasset Transportation Committee, working tirelessly for a bypass around historic Wiscasset. She was also an active contributor to the Wiscasset Comprehensive Plan Committee.
Perhaps her proudest achievement occurred in 1977 when Mrs. Rafter and fellow preservationist Wolcott Andrews registered Wiscasset in the National Register, creating the Wiscasset Historic District. She was a founding member of the Maine Historic Preservation Association; first President of the Embroiderers Guild of Maine, and lifelong member; and she served on the Board of Directors of the Maine Coastal Botanical Garden, giving generously to the cause. Her philanthropic support of many worthy causes, especially the Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN), Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA), and Coastal Maine Botanical Garden are noteworthy.
Mrs. Rafter was recognized for her tireless service with many awards and accolades. She received the Lansdale Gardiner Award for contributions to the Wiscasset Garden Club. The Town of Wiscasset honored her with dedications of the Town Report, named her the Grand Marshal in a 4th of July Parade, and has created the Marguerite Rafter Map Room at the Town Office. The State of Maine honored her in 1982 with the State of Maine Historic Preservation Award and in 2000, with the Maine Preservation Honor Award.
She is predeceased by her husband, John G. Rafter; and brother, Walter Spilsbury.
Survivors include her brother, Hugh G. Spilsbury, Irvine, Calif.; children, Vicky Rafter McCaffery and husband Gene, Schoharie, N.Y., John G. Rafter Jr. and wife Pid of Wiscasset, Annie Rafter of Santa Fe, N.M., and Margo Rafter Strong of Wiscasset; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; many cherished nieces and nephews, and extended family who knew her affectionately as "Mother Rafter."
A service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Rafter was held at St. Philip's Church in Wiscasset on Monday, September 12.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Coast of Maine Cremation and Funeral Service, Waldoboro.
Contributions in remembrance of Mrs. Rafter should be made to Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 234, Boothbay, ME 04537; or to the Lincoln County Historical Association, P. O. Box 61, Wiscasset, ME 04578.
Gerald R. Rice
2004-12-30
Gerald R. (Jerry) Rice, 60, of Nobleboro died at home December 24 surrounded by his family who cared for him during his long battle with cancer.
He was born June 17, 1944 in Portland, son of Wilder and Marguerite (Dodge) Rice. He grew up in Edgecomb and Nobleboro and graduated from Lincoln Academy in the Class of 1963.
On September 14, 1968 he married Pamela Tarr. The couple lived in Rockland, Thomaston and Nobleboro, enjoying many years of traveling, including a special family cruise to Nassau, Bahamas. Mr. Rice loved all sports, especially NASCAR racing. He was not simply a spectator at the races, but was a successful driver at quarter mile races throughout Maine. He was also the team manager of the Pen Bay SuperSox women's softball team.
During his school years, he worked at the Yellowfront Grocery, in Damariscotta. He was also the manager for the band, Innovations. Later, while working at Vocaline in South Bristol, Mr. Rice traveled to Spain, Bermuda and several other countries. Employed as an electrician, he had worked for several companies in Knox County, as well as many years at Miles Memorial Hospital and at the time of his illness was at Bath Iron Works.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Pamela, and his parents, all of Nobleboro; his brothers, Paul of Washington, Scott of Waldoboro, and Dean and his wife, Susanna, of Whitefield; his mother-in-law Virginia (Jean) Tarr of New Harbor; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and Godchildren. He will be lovingly remembered his special friend Mac and special friend, Roanne Seeley.
A celebration of Jerry's life will be between 2 and 4 p.m., January 2, at Reunion Station Restaurant, Damariscotta. He will be laid to rest, with private family services, at the New Harbor cemetery in the spring.
If desired, donations may be made to Miles Home Health/Hospice, Damariscotta, ME, 04543, the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME, 04556, or the charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of the Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Damariscotta.
Teresa S. Richardson
2005-11-17
Teresa Senier Richardson died Friday, November 11, in Alabama, just six days shy of her 95th birthday.
She was born on November 17, 1910 in Clifden, Ireland. "Tree" as she was called by those who knew and loved her, came to America where she met and married George Dewey Richardson Sr. They lived on Jewett Cove on the southern end of Westport Island.
Known to thousands for her ability to make pies and pastries, she began working in the restaurant trade at the young age of 62. She was featured in The Yankee Traveler and Connoisseur magazines, in the Wiscasset Newspaper, on a baking segment of Channel 6 in Portland, and a full-page article in the Anniston Star.
At the age of 94, she retired as the head baker at Le Garage in Wiscasset.
For the past 33 years, she had shared a home with daughter Dianne and son-in-law John.
During her southern excursions, in her spare time, she volunteered to read two days a week to the Alexandria Elementary school with stories of Ireland, Maine, and almost a century of experiences.
Mrs. Richardson survived the passing of her mom and dad, Richard Senier and Bridget O'Halloran of Clifden, Ireland; and her husband of 39 years, George Dewey Richardson; brothers, Thomas of Boston, William of Montreal, and Richard of Boston; sisters, Mary (Molly) Campbell, Eileen Campbell and Kathleen (Kay) Ritterhouse
Survivors include her three children, George D. Richardson Jr. (Marcia) of Westport Island, Dierdre Dunlop (David) of Westport Island, and Dianne R. Roberts (John) of Anniston, Ala.; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 20 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Anniston, Ala.; visitation from 2 to 3 p.m. and service at 3 p.m. with Pastor Scott Prater officiating. Grandsons will be honorary pallbearers.
After the memorial service in Anniston, a memorial service for family and friends residing in Maine will be held Saturday, December 3 at the First Congregational Church of Wiscasset, with visitation at 10 a.m., and service at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Maine next to her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alabama Head Injury Foundation, 3100 Lorna Rd., Suite 226, Hoover, AL 35216.
Edith M. Riso
2006-02-02
Edith M. Riso, 89, a Tarrytown, N.Y. resident for over 25 years, and formerly of Eastchester, N.Y. and Boothbay Harbor, passed away at her residence at Kendal on Hudson, Sleepy Hollow on January 29.
She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on August 1, 1916.
A member of the Tarrytown Seniors and the Transfiguration Seniors, she was also a volunteer at Philipsburg Manor, Historic Hudson Valley, and a parishioner at Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown. For many years she was a secretary at the Scarsdale Public Schools, enjoying a long affiliation with the English and social studies department.
She was predeceased by her husband of more than 50 years, Peter J. Riso in 1997.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Riso Locke and Lois Swann Arndt of Bronxville, N.Y.; grandchildren, Edith Locke (Richard) Cunningham and Alex Lawrence Locke of Montclair, N.J., Peter Burgess Swann and Polly Swann (William) Coward of Phoenix, Ariz.; and three great-grandchild-ren.
The family received friends at Dwyer-Vanderbilt Funeral Home in Tarrytown on Tuesday, January 31. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, February 1 at Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown. Internment followed at White Plains Rural cemetery in White Plains, N.Y.
Joseph Ryan dies
2006-03-17
Joseph R. Ryan, Jr. 79, died March 13, 2006. He was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, on February 4, 1927, to Joseph R. and Ruth Kearns Ryan, Sr.
He served in the Army, married Alice E. Duggan on May 6, 1950. She predeceased him on March 4, 1972. He then married Barbara A. Pollard on June 29, 1973. She predeceased him on May 2, 2005.
He was a communicant of St. Gregory's Parish in Gray. He worked in the shoe industry in Plymouth Cottage Industries most of his life until retirement. His retirement job was at Gray True Value.
Upon his retirement, he and Barbara started spending winters in Arizona where they belonged to Habitat for Humanity. Joe was a lifetime member of the Danvers Fire Department.
He was predeceased by both wives, his daughter, Alice Ryan, sisters Ruth Ann Ryan, Elizabeth "Betty" Citroni and Dorothy Ryan, and a brother, Maurice Ryan. He is survived by children Mike Ryan and his wife Ann, Robert Ryan and wife Ann, Joseph Ryan and wife Patsy, Wayne Verrill and wife Cheryl, Judi-Ann Cross and husband Philip, Karen Tibbetts and husband Jon, Cindy Bunch, Joyce Barr and husband Mark, and Melinda Frye and husband Rick; 20 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; one sister, Cate Ryan of Danvers, MA; and one brother, Jack Ryan of Venice, FL.
Visitation was held on Thursday at Wilson Funeral Home, in Gray. A funeral mass was celebrated on Friday morning at St. Gregory's Parish, North Raymond Road, Gray. Father Knox and Father Lavoie were the Celebrants. Committal will be at a later date. Arrangements were under the care of Wilson Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Gray Fire-Rescue, 125 Shaker Road, Gray, Maine 04039.
Francis Eggers, 76
Francis S. Eggers of Scarborough and formerly of Peterborough, N.H. died at home on March 31, 2006 after a long illness.
Francis was born in Denver, Colo. On January 18, 1930 and moved east with her family at an early age. She attended Lincoln School in Providence, R.I. and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
While living in Peterborough, Francis was a member of All Saints Church, the Peterborough Garden Club and was on the board of directors of the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter for 10 years.
Francis had an interior design business for many years before retiring to Maine. She was a flower show design judge in the Garden Club of America and a master flower show judge in the National Garden Club. She was a member of the Scarborough Garden Club and the Garden Club of Piscataqua of Maine.
Francis was predeceased by her husband Earl "Doc" Eggers. She is survived by her daughters Hope Shaw of Salem, Ore., Valerie Carroll of Newton, Mass., Katharine Kingsley of Scarborough, Deborah Eggers of West Tisbury, Mass. and Jennifer Eggers of Waltham, Mass. She is survived by three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Contributions in her memory may be made to Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter, 47 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH 03458.
Irene Cunion
Irene Rose Cunion of Piper Shores in Scarborough passed away on September 29, 2006.
Born to Hubert and Blanche Benson, she was an only child. She was raised in Lewiston and resided in Portland, Maine and Manchester, N. H. Mrs. Cunion was a telephone operator, Girl Scout leader and a catechism teacher at St. Joseph’s in Portland and St Pius X in Manchester, N.H. She was past president of the PTA in Portland and was employed by the city of Manchester school nutrition department.
She was predeceased by her husband, William Cunion and a grandson, Patrick Kerouac. The family includes four daughters – Mrs. Randal (Sandra) Gauthier, Sharon Kerouac and Patricia Cote, all of Manchester, N.H., and Mrs. Clyde (Sheila) Bartlett of Cape Elizabeth, four grandchildren, three step grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and a brother-in-law, Edward Union, and his wife Rose of Lewiston.
There were no calling hours. Private committal services and burial were held at Mount Hope cemetery in Lewiston.
Arrangements were made by the Hobbs Funeral Home of South Portland.
Florence C. Waite
Florence C. Waite, 67: NYC girl at home in Maine
PORTLAND – Florence C. Waite of Summit Park Avenue died of cancer February 24 at Mercy Hospital. She was born in Maspeth, Queens, New York, on July 22, 1927, the daughter of Frederick and Catherine Dickmann.
On June 1, 1947, she married Norman P. Waite of Leeds. After marrying they spent eight years in Liberty, New York before moving to Summit Park Avenue in Portland in 1958, where they raised their family and lived ever since.
Priscilla Rundin described her parents as “very loving, devoted to each other in a way you don't see much anymore... Each one thought so much of the other before they would do something.”
Mr. Waite was his wife's final caregiver. He took care of her at home until the last couple of days of her life. “He did it all,” his daughter said, with help from the Visiting Nurses Association. “He wanted to make sure she stayed at home as long as she could.”
The young man from Leeds met his future wife from New York City when he was stationed in New York with the Army Air Corps, along with his cousin. His cousin's girlfriend was friends with Norman's family in Leeds, where they ran a Bed & Breakfast, “an old farmhouse with lots of bedrooms,” Rundin said.
The cousin's girlfriend and Waite's future wife took the train from New York City to Leeds to stay at the farmhouse. Norman happened to be home from the service on a fishing trip with his dad.
“They got together and it was love at first sight,” Rundin said. This past fall Rundin took her parents to Chain of Falls, near Eustis, where “Dad had been fishing with his father before he met our mother.” It was “a trip down memory lane,” Rundin said.
Mrs. Waite never learned to drive because “she came from New York City where there was public transportation, so my father always took her wherever she wanted to go... He waited in the car or got dragged along,” Rundin said.
Waite was always “the New York City girl,” her daughter said. The family visited often, including trips to the World's Fair in 1964, Radio City Music Hall at Christmas, and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
When Rundin asked her mother if it was difficult moving to Maine after living in the big city, Waite said she “wouldn't trade it. It was nice to have had that upbringing,” but she loved life in Maine, her daughter said.
One of her favorite spots to visit was the Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, followed by lobster rolls at Spurwink Kitchen. Rundin recently took her mother for a ride along the coast, starting at Higgins Beach and hitting all the ocean spots along the way to Portland.
Waite worked for Sears, Roebuck & Co. for many years and retired from Unum after 20 years. She also worked many Christmas seasons at L.L. Bean.
Tradition was important to her. For example, she incorporated a lot of her mother-in-law's old-fashioned recipes into holiday celebrations. She would make 10 pies even if there was only four people at the table, “because that's how it was always done,” her daughter said, listing lemon sponge pie, ginger bread, and apple crisp as favorite dishes. Waite also made recipes from her own German heritage, including sweet and sour red cabbage.
Waite enjoyed visiting her husband’s homestead, “HILHOLME,” with her family, a big old farmhouse that overlooked Androscoggin Lake where they were “self-contained.” They had cows, and made their own butter and sour cream. There were chickens. “They were very self-sufficient,” Rundin said.
Surviving is her husband of 57 years Norman P. Waite; a son, Norman and wife, Louise of Windsor, Conn; daughters, Priscilla and husband, John Rundin of Portland; and Debra and husband, Charles Carroll of Shrewsbury, Mass.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, March 5 at noon at the Leeds Community Church. A luncheon will be served following the service. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, Portland.
