Dr. Philip Wills Haines

Dr. Philip Wills Haines
1945 - 2017
VASSALBORO - Dr. Philip "Phil" Wills Haines, 72, passed away Sept. 23, 2017, at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta. He was born July 19, 1945, in Mount Holly Township, N.J., the son of Bernard S. and Elizabeth S. (Matlack) Haines. 
Phil grew up in Maple Shade, N.J., attended Moorestown Friends School (New Jersey) and graduated from Westtown School (Westtown, Pa.) in 1963. Phil then graduated from Union College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1967, and earned a Master's Degree in chemistry from Purdue in 1969. Later, in 1982, Phil earned a Doctorate of Public Health from the University of North Carolina.
While working in a chemistry lab at Yale University, Phil met Susan Pitcher, and they married in New Haven in 1970. Phil and Sue moved together to Vassalboro in 1972, buying the home on Bog Road where they raised a family, tended a large vegetable garden, and enjoyed the woods on foot and on crosscountry skis. 
Phil was a kind, caring, dedicated leader in the workplace who strove to ensure that his colleagues and associates received the support and recognition they deserved. He worked tirelessly in support of Public Health across Maine. He was employed by the Maine Bureau of Health in 1972 as a chemist in the Laboratory of Public Health, then promoted to Assistant Director after earning his Doctorate degree, and eventually to Director of the Laboratory of Public Health. He was later promoted to Deputy Director of the Bureau of Public Health and served as Acting Director for the Bureau for periods of time. Senator King remembered "Phil Haines was determined and dogged in protecting the health and well-being of Maine people-his shoulder was always to the wheel but with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his lips. He was a valued contributor to my time as governor. The people of Maine (and I) have lost someone special." 
Through his life, Phil was devoted to both family and community. He energetically supported community and town functions, serving in numerous capacities throughout his life in Maine including: 16 years on the Vassalboro Board of Selectmen, many years on the Budget Committee and Sanitation District Trustees; more than 30 years as fireman and as treasurer of the Vassalboro Fire Department; treasurer of the Vassalboro Friends Meeting, Webber Pond Lake Association and Tilton Lane Association; and ten years on Delta Ambulance Board of Directors (including time as President).
Another of Phil's passions was enjoyment of the outdoors with loved ones. This began with childhood trips to Maine, hiking, canoeing and sailing. Later, Phil and Sue enjoyed introducing these activities to their children, exploring the forest behind their home as well as woods, streams, and mountains across Maine and elsewhere. Particular highlights included numerous trips paddling down the Allagash River, hiking up Mt. Katahdin, camping at Acadia National Park, and sailing on Webber Pond and Penobscot Bay.
Phil is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan (Pitcher) Haines of Vassalboro; two sons, Josh Haines and wife Heather of Acton, Mass., and Seth Haines of Boulder, Colo.; grandsons, Henry and William Haines of Acton, Mass.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Vassalboro Community School, under the care of the Vassalboro Friends Meeting. A reception will follow. Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott's Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phil's memory to the:
American Lung
Association of Maine
122 State St. 
Augusta, ME 04330-5689 or:
Kennebec Land Trust
PO Box 261
Winthrop, ME 04364

 

Kennebec Land Trust Seeks Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Public Comments Welcomed

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Kennebec Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation. A public comment period is now open.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. The Kennebec Land Trust seeks accreditation to ensure that its practices meet or exceed the nationally recognized best practices

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how The Kennebec Land Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-practices.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/, or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Comments on The Kennebec Land Trust’s application will be most useful if received by November 6, 2017.

Mary (Coffin) Sturtevant 1937-2017

AUGUSTA - Mary Stewart Coffin Sturtevant left her body peacefully on July 10, 2017, after several years of struggling with dementia. 

Mary was born in Augusta on June 24, 1937, the daughter of Richard O. and Marion S. Coffin. Mary attended Augusta schools, graduating from Cony High School in 1955. She followed the footsteps of her mother to University of Maine at Orono where she majored in zoology and was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She graduated from the university in 1959 with a B.S. in Biology. After college, Mary worked at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for nearly 30 years as a chemist in the water lab, retiring in 1993.

She met her husband, Thomas Charles Sturtevant, while she was working with the State. Tom brought well-water samples to her lab for testing and began courting her. They married on August 25, 1962, and moved to Winthrop where they renovated an old farmhouse which they named Cranberry Rock Farm at the foot of Mt. Pisgah. There, they raised two children, Benjamin and Susannah, grew vegetables and flowers and improved the land. In 1984 they moved to downtown Winthrop and became active members of the community as they retired from the workplace.

Mary stayed busy throughout her retirement. She volunteered with many local organizations, including the Viles Arboretum, Kennebec Land Trust, Winthrop Area People for Peace, and the Charles M. Bailey Library in Winthrop. She was a lover of nature and enjoyed hiking and spending time near the ocean. She was a member of the Augusta Nature Club and Josselyn Botanical Society. From 2000-2004 Mary was a volunteer for the Maine Vernal Pool project at the Kennebec Land Trust's Besse Historic Conservation Area where she and her husband, Tom, were volunteer land stewards. She was a member of the Universalist-Unitarian Community Church of Augusta where she was baptized in 1939.

Mary was proud to be an alumna of the Nash School, the former elementary school in Augusta's Capitol Complex area. She helped organize the 100th Anniversary of the school in 1997 and worked with the the Maine State Legislature and Maine Humanities Council on recognizing the building's significance and importance. Mary served as the school's librarian while her children attended Nash.

Mary appreciated the arts and loved music. She loved to sing with Winthrop CODA Chorus and attend concerts at the University of Maine at Augusta, Colby, Bates and Bowdoin. She enjoyed books and poetry and plays at the Theatre at Monmouth. She was an active student at UMA's Senior College where she sometimes helped with teaching courses.

Additionally, Mary was a talented craftswoman. She loved to quilt, knit, crochet, needlepoint, rug hook, paint, sculpt and create Christmas ornaments. She enjoyed sewing clothing for her children and granddaughter and sewed bags for Books for Babies. Mary helped lead the 2000 - 2001 Wayne Elementary School Redwork Embroidery history project. She taught many eager students how to backstitch. She was a wonderful baker of pastries and cookies for her family and friends, and especially enjoyed making muffins, pie and cake from wild blueberries freshly picked from Mt. Pisgah.
She was politically active and attended many peace rallies with her husband and marched in Washington, D.C. in support of women's reproductive rights.

She was predeceased by her husband, Tom, in 2012, and by her younger brother, David G. Coffin, in 2009.
Mary is survived by her sister Carolyn (Coffin) Ladd, brother Richard S. Coffin and his wife, Joan McGinnes; her son, Benjamin Sturtevant, and his wife, Erin Lloyd, and granddaughter Clare J. Sturtevant; her daughter, Susannah (Sturtevant) Sanfilippo, and her husband, Francesco; and several nieces and nephews and cousins.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Universalist-Unitarian Community Church of Augusta. Burial will be at a later date this fall.
Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Service, One Church Street, Augusta. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, please donate
in Mary's memory to:
Charles M. Bailey Public Library
39 Bowdoin St. 
Winthrop, ME 04364 or:
Kennebec Land Trust
PO BOX 261
331 Main St.
Winthrop, ME 04364 or: 
Viles Arboretum
153 Hospital St.
Augusta, ME 04330