BANGOR – Lennart Rost, 79, passed away Nov. 4, 2011, at a Bangor hospital with loved ones at his side after a long struggle with multiple sclerosis. He was born May 21, 1932, in Stockholm, Sweden, only child of the late Johan Otto and Mia (Johnson) Røst.
He grew up in Trondheim, Norway, amid occupation and the turmoil of World War II. With peace and sovereignty restored to his homeland, Lennart completed his compulsory military service in the Norwegian army. His journeys abroad sparked a lifelong interest in engineering and all things mechanical. He attended and received his degree in civil engineering from Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim, Norway. After moving to Maine in 1960, he lived and worked in the Augusta area. He started a family and became a U.S. citizen, though his heart was always in Norway. Weekends were spent in Castine, where the Penobscot Bay reminded him of home. He worked as a professional engineer for the state of Maine. He was heavily involved with water quality and waste water management. An innovative designer, he held many patents. Lennart was most proud of his patented radon mitigation system for well water. Later in life, he settled in the southern Maine town of Wells. During the building boom of the 1980s, he was a self-employed site evaluator and soil scientist. He designed many septic systems for projects large and small. As the 1990s dawned, so did his disease, and his symptoms worsened, forcing a retirement. In 2007, Lennart made his last trip back to Norway to visit friends and celebrate a 50th class reunion. He remained very close to his boyhood friends throughout his life, including his best friend, Frode Pedersen of Gjovik, Norway, whom he treated as a brother. Lennart moved from retirement housing to assisted living and eventually into residential care. His final home was in Bangor, at Eastside Rehabilitation and Living Center. His last days were filled with his love of music and poetry, and the marvel of the cyber world. His family is very appreciative, as was Lennart, of the attention and the care that he received from the wonderful staff at this facility.
Survivors include his son, Lars Rost and wife, Shelley, of Cumberland, along with their children, Alicia, Erik and Adam; as well as his daughter, Lisa Haugen and husband, Patrick, of Castine, along with her children, Tess, Edward and Gordon Lameyer. He will be especially missed by old friends, Frode, Tor G., Tor R., Sven and Werner; and by his special friend, Alicia Eaton of Penobscot.
Private services are planned for a future date. Donations in Lennart’s memory may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Greater New England Chapter, P.O. Box 845945, Boston, MA 02284-5945.