BANGOR and PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Earl R. Constantine, 90, died Dec. 24, 2011, in Stuart, Fla. He was born Aug. 28, 1921, in Bangor, the son of Thomas Edward and Margaret Bridget (Murphy) Constantine. The doctor was delayed on the way to Earl’s delivery. When he arrived, Earl was already born. The doctor only charged half the fee.
Earl was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bangor, and was the fourth generation to worship there. His great-grandfather, Michael Constantine, was one of the original St. Mary’s Church Parish members when it was piloted in 1874. Earl lived in Bangor for most of his life and attended St. Mary’s Grade School, John Bapst High School, Maine School of Commerce, now Husson University, and the University of Maine, Orono. Earl also attended Beehler School of Watchmaking as a certified watchmaker by the U.S. Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C., but never worked at his trade. He served in the Army Air Corps from Dec. 11, 1942, to Feb. 14, 1946. He was a computer operator in the punch card days of IBM. Upon discharge he was employed by the Veterans Administration, Togus, and later in Bangor. He lived part time in Vero Beach, Fla., from 1988 to 1996; in Naples, Fla., from 1997 to 2006; and moved to Harbor Place, Port St. Lucie, Fla., in 2007. Earl was licensed for all lines of insurance, for real estate, variable annuities and mutual funds. In real estate he was licensed in August 1949, and he entered the employment of Louis Kirstein and Sons, where he enjoyed a career in the real estate and insurance business. His mentors were A. L. Kirstein and J. William Sheehan, whose counsel, advice and wisdom stayed with him for a lifetime. Hardly a week went by that he did not quote one or the other long after their deaths in 1955 and 1960, respectively. In 1961 he accepted employment as a marketing representative at Maine Bonding and Casualty Co. until retirement in 1986. He retired as assistant secretary in marketing. As a member of St. Mary’s Church, Earl served as an altar boy through high school. He was also a lector and chairman of the parish council for one year under Monsignor Ward and four years under Father Paul Coughlin. He was a life member of Knights of Columbus, third and fourth degree, having joined in 1944. He was a past member of James W. Williams American Legion Post, Bangor. He was a lifetime member of the Bangor YMCA and a member of Lucerne Beach Club from 1960 to 2010. Earl and his wife were members of the Saturday Nighters, Bangor, for many years. He married Lillian B. Rogan in 1951 and raised five children, putting them all through college at the University of Maine, Orono or Southern Maine campuses.
He was predeceased by a son, Michael Joseph, in 1982; and his beloved wife, Lillian, in 1998. He is survived by four children: daughters, Rose Alice Constantine Marden of San Antonio and Elizabeth “Betty” Constantine Floris of Stuart, Fla.; and sons, Patrick Edward of Dallas and Timothy John of St. Augustine, Fla.; and five grandchildren, Elizabeth Marden, John Marden, Michael Rogan Constantine, Sophia Constantine and Michael Patrick Constantine.
Family and friends may visit 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at Kiley and Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bangor, where a reception will be afterward in the parish hall. Burial will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor. A memorial service will be held in Florida at a later date. Donations in memory of Earl Constantine may be made to Husson University to Earl Constantine Scholarship Fund, care of Emily Burke, director of Planned Giving, Husson University, 1 College Circle, Bangor, ME 04401 or Lillian B. Constantine Scholarship at Bangor High School, care of Alan Kochis, Bangor School Department, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences may be offered to his family at BCFloris@msn.com or the Constantine Family, 8915 SW Fishermans Wharf Drive, Stuart, FL 34997 or
www.kileyandfoley.com.