ROBERT ‘BJ’ J. HALE

ORRINGTON – Robert “BJ” J. Hale, 36, went to be with the Lord, Feb. 17, 2005, peacefully in his sleep. He was born June 6, 1968, in Millinocket, the son of Dr. John Hale and Mrs. Linda (Levesque) Hale. He attended school in Millinocket until moving to Orono. He graduated from Orono High School in 1986. He was the Tri-Captain of Orono’s first hockey team and also played and lettered in football and baseball. BJ proudly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 14, 1986, and completed basic training at Parris Island, S.C., Jan. 26, 1987. Following advanced training, he volunteered to serve in the Panama Conflict and eventually was transferred to Iwakuni, Japan. BJ was honorably discharged from active duty and joined the Command Element Reserve in Topsham. While in the reserve, he was specially requested to serve as an artic warfare instructor out of Fort Drum, N.Y. BJ began his career in security at Eastern Maine Medical Center and Eastern Fine Paper in 1990. He was promoted to assistant accounts manager in 1996. His work focused increasingly on healthcare security and was promoted to director of healthcare services of New England for Burns Security. His promotion to Branch Manager of Pinkerton/Securitas was a proud moment. He diligently trained and taught in healthcare security and served as chairman/president of the Maine Chapter of the International Assn. of Hospital Security. BJ was a lover of the game of hockey and all sports. He coached travel hockey for several years and eventually assisted at the local high school level. He always saw his role as coach to shape the lives of young men. At the time of his death, he was a certified hockey official. BJ was a keen, accomplished, and avid lover of the Maine woods. He respected all that God gave him to enjoy. He loved and found solitude at his hunting camp that he bought for his boys. He cherished his camp at Ambejejus Lake and loved the ponds and beauty of Katahdin. He was a proud Marine and patriot and always showed our country’s colors. He truly gave loyalty to his family, his God, and his country. His passing leaves a void for all that knew him. He was too young to die, yet wise and old enough to be ready. BJ will be sadly missed but never forgotten. He is survived by his beloved wife and eternal companion, Pamela; his young sons, Lucas and Kameron, whom he adored; and his parents John and Linda Hale. He will be deeply missed by brothers, Brett, Casey, and Joshua; as well as many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and his special nephew, Khaleb; maternal grandparents, John and Doris Levesque; paternal grandparents, John and Patricia Hale; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jeane and Garfield Dow; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and a very special sister-in-law, and her husband, Peggy and Cory Thompson. BJ had many close and special friends, the number so great it would be difficult to list them all. We would like to make special mention of two very important men in BJ’s life whom he had the utmost respect and love for, Dr. Kerry Kimball and Mr. Richard McCubrey. BJ was predeceased by very special great-grandparents, Jack and Gladys “Nana” Whirty. Friends may call 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the Calvary Chapel, 154 River Road, Orrington, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, with the Rev. Ken Graves, pastor, officiating. If you would like to remember BJ in a special way contributions may be sent to Bangor Savings Bank, 110 Park St., Orono, ME 04473, where an education trust fund has been set up for his young sons, Lucas and Kameron. A service of Brookings-Smith, Clark-Piper Chapel, 55 South Main St., Brewer.