BANGOR – Bert Pratt, 88, died Oct. 5, 2009, at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Bangor. He was born Feb. 15, 1921, in Caribou, son of Dr. Bertis L. and Beatrice (Wincott) Pratt Sr. He was a graduate of Caribou High School, Class of 1938, and a 1939 graduate of Governor Dummer Academy. In 1943 he graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and government. He was class vice president in 1941; class president, 1942-1943; and head proctor of the freshman dorm. Bert was a member of Sophomore Owls and Pale Blue Key, president of the Senior Skulls, and also a member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity. He was captain of the tennis and basketball teams, was awarded the Washington Watch Award in 1943 and recipient of the Black Bear Award and the Golden M Award from the General Alumni Association. Bert served as a technical sergeant with the 110th Medical Battalion in Europe during World War II. In 1945 Bert was director of physical education and basketball coach at Bucksport High School. He was the executive secretary of the YMCA, Bar Harbor, 1950-1951. In 1951 he also served with the American National Red Cross Disaster Service on the Midwest floods in Kansas and Nebraska. Bert was dean of students and head basketball coach at Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield, from 1952 to 1957. From 1957 to 1966, he was director of guidance at Caribou High School, past president of Caribou Teachers Association and charter president of Caribou Kiwanis Club. He was also a lay leader at Caribou United Methodist Church. In 1959 he was awarded a scholarship to Columbia University, where he received his master’s degree in guidance. He was president of the Maine Guidance Association in 1965, and from 1966 to 1968, he was a talent scout for the University Talent Utilization Program. Bert was associate director of admissions at the University of Maine from 1968 to 1986, and was alumni president for the Class of 1943. He volunteered his services from 1988 to 1997 for historic tours of Bangor. In 1999 he was inducted into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame. Surviving are his wife, Beverly (Cushman) Pratt of Bangor; three children, Ellen P. Claff and her husband, Roger E., of Herndon, Va., Carolyn R. Pratt of Boston and David C. Pratt of Apple Valley, Minn.; one grandson, Daniel E. Claff at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.; two nieces and one nephew. Bert was predeceased by three sisters, Dorothea Rhodes, Florence Henderson and Thelma Robinson; and one brother, Richard Pratt. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with Pastor Keith Cushman officiating. Interment will be at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. Those who wish to remember Bert in a special way may make gifts in his memory to UMaine M Club, care of UMAA, 1 Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469.
BERTIS L. PRATT
