SOMESVILLE – Dr. Franklin Lewis Roberts, 77, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. He was born in 1934, in Waterboro, to Mr. Lewis Roberts and Mrs. Florentine Roberts.
He graduated from the University of Maine with honors in 1955. He continued his studies as a Fulbright Scholar at Canterbury University College, Christ-church, New Zealand. He then earned his doctorate in genetics at North Carolina State University. Dr. Roberts taught for 33 years as a professor at the University of Maine, where he instructed a variety of courses such as genetics, biology and evolution. During the course of his long career, he led many groups and served on many committees, including the Zoology Department Graduate Committee, Medical Education Committee and the University of Maine AFUM Chapter. He also conducted significant research and authored many publications and textbooks in his area of focus. Embracing the opportunity to travel throughout the world during his career, Dr. Roberts spent significant time in Europe, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. One of his foremost professional and personal passions was the humanitarian work he did in Haiti. He visited the country numerous times, focusing on development projects to improve the lives of Haitians, such as building fish ponds. Over time he fell in love with the people and landscape of the country. Dr. Roberts highly valued international experiences for his students and family, which was exhibited in part by his role as vice president of the Maine/Brazil Partners of the Americas Chapter. He was responsible for the student and faculty exchange between the University of Maine and Brazil. Again, he became very fond of the country and was extremely enthusiastic about his travel there. Dr. Roberts had a lifelong love of learning across many diverse topics. He had a deep passion for nature, taking part in many outdoor adventures throughout his life, including hiking the full Appalachian Trail. He was highly involved in the Sierra Club and Maine Audubon Society. As an avid runner, he competed in numerous races and marathons. He also had a strong interest in reading, art and classical music.
Dr. Roberts is survived by his wife, Betsy Roberts of Somesville; his five daughters, Julie Martin of Windermere, Fla., Audrey Belyea of Ashburn, Va., Kathleen Brown of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Laurie Eliason of Washington, D.C., and Jennifer Christensen of Peapack, N.J.; his two stepchildren, Ellen DaCorte of Mount Desert and Eric Champlin of Jupiter, Fla.; his brother, Bruce Roberts of Sanford; his sister, Joyce Owen of Storrs-Mansfield, Conn.; and his 14 grandchildren, Corey Martin, Kevin Martin, Christopher Belyea, Courtney Belyea, Jeremy Brown, Megan Brown, Avery Eliason, Evan Christensen, Ethan Christensen, Lydia DaCorte, Jack DaCorte, Emma Champlin, Reid Champlin and William Champlin. He was predeceased by his wife of 30 years, Dorine Roberts, who died in 1988.
Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Somesville Union Meeting House, Somesville. Interment will be at Brookside Cemetery, Mount Desert. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Roberts’ memory may be made to Jackson Laboratory, attention: Development Office, P.O. Box 254, Bar Harbor, ME 04609-0254 or genetichealth.jax.org/support-the-lab/make-gift/index.html; Endowment fund of Somesville Union Meeting House, UCC, P.O. Box 96, Mount Desert, ME 04660; or Hope for Haiti www.hope-forhaiti.com/donations.php. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.