BANGOR – Merle F. Goff, 82, died March 17, 2006, at a local healthcare facility. He was born Dec. 24, 1923, in Westbrook, the son of Lendall Merle and Marcia (Gray) Goff. Merle was a graduate of Westbrook High School, class of 1942, attended the University of Maine civil engineering program 1942-1943, was in the Army Specialized Training Program at North Dakota State College in 1943 and was awarded Certificate of Completion in civil engineering. In 1948 he graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Arts in public management. He continued his education with graduate work in public administration, Volker Foundation Fellowship, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich., in 1948-1949. Merle was active in music and theater and was an accomplished violinist during his high school and college years, being a member of the Portland Symphony, the University Symphony and the National Youth Symphony orchestras. Merle was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, serving with the 44th Infantry Division, attached to Division Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, during World War II, and was wounded in action near Strasbourg, France, in 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart. Merle was a research assistant for the Detroit Bureau of Governmental Research, Detroit, Mich.; a member of the planning staff and purchasing staff for the city of Portland. He became the first full-time purchasing agent in 1949 for the city of Bangor. Merle was town manager for the towns of Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick and Orono and city administrator, city of Westbrook. Merle served 10 years as city manager for the city of Bangor where he presided over the difficult years of the Stillwater Park and downtown urban renewal projects, construction of the intercepter sewer system and primary treatment plant and the transition of Dow Air Force Base to the city and development of Bangor International Airport, as well as the creation of the Bangor Housing Authority and creation of the Kenduskeag Stream Recreational Parkway. The complete reconstruction of Bass Park was carried out under his leadership as well as the conception and organization of a centralized code enforcement system. Later he served for more than 10 years as the special assistant to the president of the Training & Development Corporation, Bangor and Bucksport. Merle was appointed to the State Board of State Tax Equalization by Gov. John Reed, appointed to the State Board of Environmental Protection by Gov. Ken Curtis; and appointed to the board of directors of Maine Criminal Justice Academy by Gov. James Longley. He was a charter member of Brunswick Elks Club; a former member of Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick and Bangor Rotary Clubs; a former member of Westbrook Lions Club and former member of Orono Kiwanis Club; a life member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity; a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Merle was past-president of the Maine Town and City Managers Association, past-president of the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, Orono and Bangor representative of the Penobscot Valley Regional Planning Commission; a founding member of the Eastern Maine Development Corporation and a member of its Development Finance Committee for more than 10 years; a member of American Society of Public Administration and a corporator of Eastern Maine Healthcare. After retirement from government service, Merle created a business at Bangor International Airport called “Buy Maine,” designed to promote and expose Maine products to retail markets and international airline passengers. Surviving are his wife, Linda (Stetson) Goff; a stepdaughter, Julie Anne Page, both of Bangor; four children, Fred L. Goff of Exeter, Margarette Fenderson and her husband, James Curtis M.D., of Bangor, Janice Davis and her husband, Tom, of Dedham, Ellen Hughes and her husband, Mike, of Augusta; seven grandchildren, Matthew Amsden, Jason Amsden, Mary Fenderson, Michael Davis and his wife, Amy, Casey Monnier and her husband, David, Benjamin Hughes and Hillary Hughes; a stepbrother, Willard Sawyer and his wife, Edith, of Stonington; cousins, George R. Gray, Richard Goff and his wife, Priscilla, all of Portland. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his stepmother, Katherine Sawyer Goff. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-7 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where funeral services will be held noon Sunday, March 19, 2006, with the Rev. Dr. Rex. H. Garrett, Director of Chaplaincy Services, EMMC, officiating. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., after the service Sunday. Those who wish to remember Merle in a special way may make gifts in his memory to a scholarship fund at the University of Maine, P.O. Box 550, Orono, ME 04473. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com
MERLE F. GOFF
