PORTLAND and BAR HARBOR – William Peter Helfrich Jr. died of a heart attack Monday, June 8, 2009, in Portland. Peter is survived by his mother, Mary Jane (Sullivan) Helfrich of Bangor and Bar Harbor; and six siblings, Kate Helfrich and her partner, Emilie Simmons, of Sacramento, Calif., J.J. (Helfrich) Dickinson and her husband, Col. Ian Dickinson and their two children, Nathaniel and Maggie, of Lorton, Va., Martha Helfrich and her teenager, Camalyn Lange, of Bar Harbor, Gretchen Helfrich of Chicago, Sam Helfrich of New York City, and Stephanie (Helfrich) White and her husband, Carl White and their son, Harris, of Mill Valley, Calif. After graduating from Boston College with a degree in philosophy, Peter attended the Navy’s Officer’s Candidate School, Newport, R.I. He served as a supply officer aboard the USS Moosbrugger out of Charleston (S.C.) Navy Base. After his navy service, Peter returned to Maine. Peter will be remembered for his great sense of humor and wicked wit, his kind heart and desire to help others, and for his love of Bar Harbor, which he always considered his true home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 1 p.m. Friday, June 19, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Ledgelawn Avenue, Bar Harbor, with the Rev. Jack F. O’Hara, pastor, celebrant. Those who wish to remember Peter in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Salvation Army ARC, 89 Preble St., Portland, ME 04104. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
WILLIAM PETER HELFRICH JR.
