PORTLAND – Kermit Avery Sanborn, 89, died Sept. 19, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. A graduate of Portland High School, he later attended Bryant and Stratton Business College, Boston. Kermit was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Kermit loved selling, meeting people and traveling. For more than 30 years he sold supplies to the printing industry in Maine and New Hampshire for Northeastern Graphic Supply. In 2008, he was honored to receive the Founder’s Award from Maine Graphic Arts Association. In addition, he loved the outdoors, including fishing, camping, hunting and picnicking – and especially doing these activities with his family. Kermit was also involved in many service organizations, such as Denmark and South Portland Lions clubs, Masons and Eastern Star, as well as Denmark Congregational Church, and before that, South Portland Thornton Heights United Methodist Church. Family was always a tremendous sense of joy for Kermit. His remarkable sense of humor will be missed not only by his family, but by the many, many others he met throughout Maine and beyond. Kermit was predeceased by his loving wife of 58 years, Eleanor; his parents, and six older brothers and sisters. He is survived by his son, Vaughn and his wife, Theresa, of Port Republic, Md.; his daughter, Suzanne and her husband, Ralph, of Kennebunk; his son, William and his wife, Nancy, of Denmark; and his grandsons, Jeffery Sanborn of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, and Jonathan Sanborn and his wife, Karen and their son, Ryan, of Virginia Beach, Va. Kermit’s family deeply appreciates the compassionate care given by Linda O’Brion and Lisa Allen during his last days and weeks. Their loving support and guidance, along with assistance from Hospice of Southern Maine, made it possible for the family to honor one of Kermit’s key wishes – to remain in his home. A funeral service will be held 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Denmark Congregational Church. Interment will be at Berry Cemetery in the Sanborn plot. Visiting hours will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at Raymond-Wentworth Funeral Home, 8 Elm St., Bridgton, where a Masonic ceremony will begin 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Denmark Congregational Church, P.O. Box 816, Denmark, ME 04022 or the charitable organization of your choice. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.andrewsgreenleaf.com.
KERMIT AVERY SANBORN
