SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Robert Raymond Maynard died peacefully May 23, 2010, at a local hospital after a sudden and unexpected illness. He was born Jan. 20, 1947, to Gerard and Laurette (Desrosier) Maynard. He spent his youth and received his schooling across the Connecticut River in the then little town of Agawam. During the Vietnam War, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. In 1968 Sgt. Maynard was stationed at Ton Son Knut Air Force Base in Saigon during the infamous Tet Offensive. After two tours “in country,” he was honorably discharged. Always a hard worker, he started in childhood with a paper route consisting of more than 300 customers! After his military service, he went on to work for American Airlines at Bradley International Airport before moving to Maine and eventually owning his own successful custom building company, Ken Hutchins Associates, Southwest Harbor, for the past 12 years. In 1973 he met his soul mate, Kathleen. They courted for four more years before she told him she wasn’t going over any state lines permanently without a wedding ring. On March 1, 1977, they married in Presque Isle, and moved into their first fixer-upper – an old farmhouse with 40 acres of land in “The County.” During the next eight years they produced two wonderful daughters, Colleen and Denise; milked their beloved Jersey cow, Jenny; raised several calves, a few pigs, flocks of chickens and harvested a huge garden. Whew! In spring 1985, Bob had had enough of the long Aroostook winters and the family relocated to Mount Desert Island. Done with farm chores, they began experiencing new adventures such as sailing, tennis, kayaking, biking, dancing, hiking, traveling and just spur of the moment goofy stuff throughout the years. Of course Fridays were reserved for “choir practice,” just a bunch of ordinary folks who gathered after a hard week to solve all the worlds ills in an evening. No singing involved! In 2006 Bob and Kathleen decided to semi-retire and go RV-ing! During the next four years they traveled throughout the U.S. meeting wonderful wanderers like themselves. Every story was a good story regardless of the veracity! The last two winters they were hosts at Mustang Island State Park, Port Aransas, Texas. Hosting consisted basically of talking for 24 hours a week to fellow travelers about anything that came to mind for which they received free camping. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 33 years, Kathleen; daughters Colleen Maynard of Lamoine and her significant other, Jason Therrien – a man Bob considered as a son, and Denise Maynard of Pawtucket, R.I. Additionally, he is survived by a brother, George Maynard and his wife, Judy, of Rhode Island; sisters, Pauline Dunlap and her husband, Charles, of Massachusetts and Janet Sarno of Connecticut; plus wonderful and numerous family members. He will also be sorely missed by his many, many friends scattered across the country and beyond. Throughout the years Bob has contributed his time, money and equipment to various friends, charities and local community organizations. Funeral services will be held 4 p.m. Friday, June 11, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert, with the Rev. Robert Raymond officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s name to either Harbor House Community Center, P.O. Box 836, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 or Southwest Harbor Public Library, P.O. Box 157, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Online condolences may be conveyed at www.jordanfernald.com.
ROBERT RAYMOND MAYNARD
