BAR HARBOR – Ivan Washburn Whitney passed away peacefully Nov. 20, 2010, at Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor, after a battle with cancer. Ivan was born April 29, 1928, in Portland, son of Bertran and Nellie Lola (Washburn) Whitney. He attended school in Ellsworth, graduating as salutatorian in 1945, and from the University of Maine, Orono, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration in 1951. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II, serving in the 51st Signal Battalion. For 20 years Ivan worked for Sears, Roebuck & Co. as a store manager, several of those years in Venezuela. He also worked at Sears stores in Lewiston, Augusta, Bangor and Glen Falls, N.Y., after which he became a real estate developer and broker in Augusta. Ivan returned to Ellsworth and managed offices for Dead River Co., Ellsworth and Bar Harbor. He also worked with his childhood friend, Harry S. Jones as a broker. While in Venezuela, Ivan met and married Margarete Bakiewicz. They were married Feb. 14, 1958, in Maracaibo. Ivan became a member of the Masons in Augusta and later Lagonia Lodge, Ellsworth. He first became an Elk at Augusta Lodge No. 964 and later became a charter member of Ellsworth Lodge No. 2743, where he served as secretary for many years until his health forced him to retire. He was an honorary life member of his Elks Lodge. One of Ivan’s fondest memories was of those Sundays spent playing cribbage with his lifelong friend, George Anderson In addition to his wife, Margarete, he is survived by a son, Gene Whitney and his wife, Laurie, of Limerick; stepsister, Beulah Kronoff of Holden, Mass.; brother-in-law, Nick Bakiewicz of Toronto; a grandson, Matthew Whitney; and great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn. Services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at Ellsworth Lodge of Elks in the Ivan Whitney Function Hall. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Hospice of Hancock County, 14 McKenzie Ave., Ellsworth, ME 04605 or Maine Children’s Cancer Fund and made payable to Ellsworth Elks Lodge No. 2743, P.O. Box 85, Ellsworth, ME 04605. Arrangements by Acadia Burial & Cremation Direct, 248 State St., Ellsworth.
IVAN WASHBURN WHITNEY
