BANGOR – Constance Elaine (Adams) Bronson died Feb. 16, 2009, in Orono. She was born October 1921, in Bangor, the daughter of Alfred Sanford Adams and Marion Elaine (Tracy) Adams. She grew up in Maine and Massachusetts, and spent happy summers visiting her grandparents in Winter Harbor and Newport. She graduated from Centenary Junior College and Boston University and received her master’s degree from the University of Maine. She and her husband, Dick Bronson, lived in Veazie for 35 years where they raised their family and were active in the community. They moved to Bangor in 1984. Connie’s life demonstrated a love of people in general and especially a love of family and children. She showed that an individual can make a great positive difference in the community in quiet and unassuming ways. She was a great reader of mysteries, history and a wide range of literature. She was an excellent gardener, cook and needlepoint artist. Once her children were all in school, Connie taught middle school English at John R. Graham School, Veazie, for 17 years. She also directed many school plays and organized the school library. She is fondly remembered by many students and teaching colleagues, who saw her as a mentor. After her retirement from teaching, she joined her husband Dick, in his advertising and public relations business. She was active in League of Women Voters, Veazie Congregational Church and Cub Scouts. She was a founding member of the board of directors for United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern Maine and Bangor Day Activity Center – now Multiple Handicap Center. She came up with the idea of Paul Bunyan as the subject of a statue celebrating Bangor’s 125th anniversary as a city in 1959. She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Richard Burr Bronson Sr.; and a brother, Donald S. Adams. Connie and Dick had four children. They attained their goal of having six children by welcoming two AFS students into the family, Simon Kjaernested of Iceland and Ingrid Konig of Germany. Connie is survived by her children and their families, Richard B. Bronson Jr. and wife, Angelia, Tracy B. Bigney, John J. Bronson and wife, Ginny, all of Bangor, and Donald D. Bronson and wife, Rita, of Levant; eight grandchildren, Melanie Bronson Kollman and husband, John, Emilie Bronson, Benjamin and Sarah Bigney, Adam and Whitney Bronson, and Elyse and Eric Bronson; daughter-in-law, Monica Harris Bronson; four great-grandchildren, Reggie, Rubie, Lily and Henry Kollman; nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Hammond Street Congregational Church, Bangor. Donations in Connie’s memory may be made to the Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401; or Bangor Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 1441, Bangor, ME 04401. A family burial will be held at a later date in Winter Harbor. Condolences may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
CONSTANCE E. BRONSON
