WILTON, Maine — Conservative columnist and financial adviser Lawrence E. Dwight Jr., known as “J” Dwight, 54, was found dead in his home on Orchard Drive on Monday.
According to a Wilton Police Department press release, his body was found by his wife, Adrienne Neary, shortly before 1 p.m.
He appears to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and police are investigating the death as an apparent suicide.
According to police, his body has been transported to the state medical examiner’s office for examination.
Two detectives from the Major Crimes division of the Maine State Police assisted Wilton Police at the Dwight residence, known as Ridgewood Farm.
A former columnist for the Sun Journal and current columnist for The Maine Wire, Dwight wrote about wind power, global warming, energy independence, state government and finance, among other things.
A SEC registered investment adviser, Dwight was founder and president of Dwight Investment Counsel and served on the board of advisers of the Maine Heritage Policy Center.
He was a staunch opponent of industrial wind power in Maine’s mountains, and served on Wilton’s Finance Committee.
He and his wife own Ridgewood Farm, a 30-acre horse farm that is currently listed for sale at $619,900. Described as a premier equestrian facility, the farm features a large family home and separate equestrian facility and 18-stall barn.
A self-described bird enthusiast who led birding trips since the age of 14, according to his business website, he was a former president of the Rachel Carson Natural Wildlife Preserve, former board member of Maine Audubon Society and former president of Kennebunk Land Trust.
Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, said Tuesday that “J was my very dear friend.”
“We often sat around and debated politics, we debated life and sometimes just drank coffee. He was an asset to the community and he brought conservative values to the community, which needed to be heard.”
“This is terrible,” Saviello said. “He’s going to be missed. I miss him already.”
Saviello said he, personally, was going through conflict, J stood by him.
“He loved bird watching,” Saviello said. “He was passionate about it and extremely talented at it.”
In 2003, Dwight was part of the nonprofit grass-roots Rural Broadband Initiative that was awarded a $7,500 grant from the Maine Community Foundation to conduct a survey of Franklin County businesses and residents to quantify the market for what RBI members believed was much-needed broadband service.
A former member of the legislative Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission, Dwight was arrested in July 2011 on a charge of domestic assault. Dwight resigned his position on the commission after his arrest, and the charges were dismissed a month later.
The governor’s office declined comment on Dwight’s death.
To see more from the Sun Journal, visit sunjournal.com.
So sorry to hear this, prayers are going out the the family.
I can’t understand why he supposedly did that. A decent guy that couldn’t talk it out with his friend over another cup of coffee.
SO sad.
And please, no ‘all conservatives should do the same’ remarks. He obviously was lonely in his big world.
Thank you- couldn’t have said it better myself!
my condolences to the family…there seems to have been a dark side to this otherwise successful ,happily married man…a terrible legacy to leave for his family…
Why does the BDN have to mention that he was arrested in this article when the case obviously had no merit and was thrown out? Let’s focus on the tragic ending to an inspired life, not judge based on anything else.
And also the price of the house,etc?Completely unnecessary.
Being dismissed doesn’t mean it had no merit.
Our thoughts are with Dwight’s family and friends, and his former and current colleagues.
Well, that is a shame. RIP
despite having all the charges dropped against someone, It can never replace the lose suffered by that person which took a lifetime of dedication to achieve. The degradation and humiliation sufferd can and often is debilitating; and in some cases life ending.My heart goes out to his family and closest friends at this most painful time.
He found the Gyrfalcon at Flood Brothers in Clinton, that my brother and I were able to see.
I am very thankful for his discovery of that amazing bird.
My deepest condolences to his family.
Suicide is such a terrible thing to do to your faamily. The ultimate selfish act. My sincere condolences to his family.