EDWARD ARLEN MATHESON

BANGOR – Edward Arlen Matheson, 78, a lifelong resident of Bangor, died June 17, 2009, after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Born Dec. 28, 1930, he was the youngest of four children of Angus William and Alice (McDermott) Matheson. His birthplace was the family farmhouse on Fuller Road, Bangor, on land now occupied by Bangor International Airport. Mr. Matheson graduated from St. Mary’s Parochial Grammar School, First Street, Bangor, in 1945 and from John Bapst High School in 1949. Later in life he attended classes at the University of Maine, Orono. While in high school, he was employed by Bangor Public Works Department and W.T. Grant department store. He served in the U.S. Air Force and received an honorable discharge. While in grammar school he was a member of the Gas House Gang, a group of youngsters who built their own baseball field where Second Street Park is now located. As a teenager he played sandlot baseball and football, and was a member of several championship softball, baseball and basketball teams in the Bangor Recreational Leagues. In his senior year in high school, he was a member of the Eastern Maine Class A Championship baseball team that lost to South Portland High School in the state final at Brewer Athletic Field. Later, he played baseball with the Bangor Collegians and Belfast Merchants and basketball with Viner’s Music in Bangor. Ed was an avid golfer and was a member of Bangor Municipal Golf Course. He went on many golfing trips with his buddies and a perfect day was when he was on the golf course with his friends, his daughter or grandson. After his military service, Mr. Matheson was employed with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, Conn., after which he was a sports writer for the Bangor Evening and Sunday Commercial. He was then news editor at the Belfast Republican Journal, leaving that position in 1956 to work for the Bangor Daily News as a report-writer covering the police beat and state and federal courts. In 1968, he was appointed Chapter XIII Trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, a position he held for more than 10 years. He retired as an employee for Maine State Liquor Commission in 1997 and for more than 40 years served as bail commissioner in Penobscot County. In the late 1980s Mr. Matheson authored a column, “Slightly Ajar” for the Brewer Weekly Register and was a contributor to Main Golf Magazine published in Brewer. Throughout the years as a journalist he had featured stories published by the Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, London Times and Billboard. While in Belfast he was a stringer for the Portland Press Herald and Sunday Telegram and Bangor Patriot. Mr. Matheson had a devoted interest in local history and politics; he ran for Bangor City Council in 1976 and recently had written a manuscript on German prisoners of war brought from the battlefield to Bangor. He was a regular Red Cross blood donor prior to his illness. Mr. Matheson was a past member of Frederic Ritchi Grange of Waldo, Brewer Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 3177 and Bangor Lodge of Elks No. 244. He was also a frequent visitor to Hammond Street Senior Citizen Center. Mr. Matheson was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Elizabeth Jean (Matheson) Drouin; and his brothers, Neil F. Matheson and Leo T. Matheson. Mr. Matheson was an incredible dad and papa, he gave everything to his children and grandchildren. He was his happiest when he was in their company, whether it was fishing trips, ball games, country drives or cooking up a batch of his world famous biscuits. He leaves to mourn his loss his three children, Marie Matheson Cross and her husband, John and grandson, Samuel Joseph Cross and granddaughter, Allison Elizabeth Morrill, all of South Portland; Susan Matheson Tardif and granddaughter, Hannah Marie Tardif, of Lamoine; and Mark Edward Matheson and his wife, Lauri and grandson, Jonathan Edward Matheson, all of Bangor; a cousin, Mary (Goodness) Spencer of Bridgton; a niece and nephew, Marilyn (Drouin) Barrett of Veazie and John Drouin of Orrington. The family wishes to thank Dr. Astrid Andrescu, Dr. Ganesha Santhyadka and the caring and kind staff of New Hope Hospice. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 4-6 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where a funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 22, with the Rev. William Campbell, S.J., officiating. Interment will be after at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor. Those wishing to remember Edward in a special way may make gifts in his name to Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.