CAMDEN, Maine — Parker Laite Sr., one of the community’s most recognized and active civic leaders, died Monday at his home following a brief illness.
The 82-year-old Laite had been active in a wide spectrum of town affairs for more than half a century.
Select Board member Leonard Lookner said what he remembered most about Laite was his graciousness. Lookner said he and Laite for many years were on different sides of the political spectrum but that Laite always remained civil.
That held true at town meetings when issues did not go the way Laite had wanted.
“He was a man who truly believed in democracy,” Lookner said.
Select Board Chair John French Jr. said he recalls Laite’s sense of humor and added that Laite did more for the community than many know, because he helped out people without any fanfare.
Laite was born on Bay View Street during the depths of the Great Depression, according to the Camden Town Report from 2007, which was dedicated to him and his service to the community.
He graduated from Camden High School in 1951 and Maine Maritime Academy in 1954, and later attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
In 1955, he married his high school sweetheart and classmate, Irene “Renie” Fitzsimmons. They were married for 50 years. She predeceased him in 2006. They have two children.
After serving with the U.S. Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy for a few years, Laite and his family returned to Camden when he joined Marine Colloids in Rockland.
He later founded Laite Construction Company.
He served nine years on the Board of Selectmen, including two terms as chair. He served for 15 years on the town Planning Board, mainly as its chair. He also served on the land use and comprehensive plan committees, the Camden Post Office Committee, the Harbor Committee and was co-chair of the town charter committee. He also was a member of a committee that established zoning for Camden, according to the town report.
Laite also served on the committee that formed School Administrative District 28 and was involved in many school construction projects. He was the moderator for many years at the annual town meeting. He served on the Camden Public Library Board of Trustees, serving as president from 2000 to 2004. In 1993, he directed the restoration on the Camden Amphitheatre and was chair of the building committee that managed the construction of the library’s underground Centennial Wing in 1996.
He had been a trustee of Pen Bay Medical Center and was chair of their building committee. He was also a trustee of the Camden Health Care Center and was chair of that building project. He was a lifelong member of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, where he had been a choir boy, acolyte, vestryman and chair of various committees.
Laite also had been one of the owners of Wayfarer Marine, selling it in 2007. The town report pointed out he worked hard to preserve not only jobs for its 100 employees but also preserve Camden Harbor’s rich maritime heritage.
Laite was honored in 1994 as Rockport-Camden-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce’s Townsperson of the Year.
Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 33 Chestnut St. A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Monday at St. Thomas. The Rev. Suzanne Colburn will officiate. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Irene F. Laite Memorial Garden at Oak Hill Cemetery, c/o Camden Town Office, P.O. Box 1207, Camden, ME 04843, or to the charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are being made by Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.