SOUTH PORTLAND – Lt. Cmdr. Cyril Don Maxwell, U.S. Coast Guard, retired, 84, passed away peacefully Nov. 24, 2008, after a brief illness, at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Scarborough. Don was born May 14, 1924, in Montpelier, Idaho, to Bessie and George Maxwell. He spent his childhood growing up in Mooseheart, Ill. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and his graduation from Mooseheart, Ill., Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He landed in the invasion of Peleliu Palau and later participated in the rescue of the USS Indianapolis’ crew. After the Navy, he worked for Dictaphone, Oakland, Calif., where he met and married Elizabeth Mae. In 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard as an electronics technician second class. Highlights of his 20-year U.S. Coast Guard career include commanding officer of Loran Station, Jupiter, Fla., and operations officer on the USCGC Barataria, which was stationed in Portland. Thus, Don brought his family to Maine. After his retirement from the Coast Guard in 1966, he worked for Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Baltimore, where he developed radar guidance for missile systems. In 1969, Don moved his family back to Maine where he taught mathematics and physics at the former Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute. He retired in 1989 and kept busy through the Military Officers Association of America. Veterans’ issues were a particular passion of Don’s, and he devoted time and energy communicating with Augusta and Washington on behalf of veterans. Don was a friendly and familiar face around his neighborhood, and enjoyed spending time visiting, renovating his home, reading and doing yard work. Don loved his family deeply and will forever remain in the hearts of his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Pamela and her husband, Jay; son, Jeffrey; son, George; and son, Gregory and his wife, Susie. Don is also survived by his three grandchildren, Bobby, Ashleigh and Zachery. Don’s surviving siblings are Joan and LaRue. He was predeceased by his stepson, Bruce Bohnhoff; and brothers, Clifford and George. The family wishes to extend sincere appreciation to the staff at Scarborough Veterans’ Home for the care and kindness they gave Don. There will be no funeral at this time. In the spring the family will hold a graveside service at Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, where Don will receive full military honors. Memorial contributions may be made in Don’s memory to the Volunteer Restricted Fund, care of Maine Veterans’ Home, 290 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074. Arrangements made by Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.
CYRIL D. MAXWELL
