WESTPORT ISLAND — Benjamin F. Crehore, III. 77, of Westport Island died suddenly of natural causes at his home on Friday, June 1st, doing what he loved best, shooting. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut on October 10, 1934 to Benjamin F., II and Gladys Knowles Crehore. He grew up in Manchester, Connecticut graduating from Manchester High School in 1952. He received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in 1957, his Master’s of Science Degree in 1961, and his CAS in 1966 all from the University of Connecticut.
On February 23, 1959 he married Sandra Jean Smith in Mansfield, Connecticut and together they raised three children, a son and two daughters.
His teaching career began in 1957 in Swanton, Vermont. They then moved back to Connecticut where he taught in Willimantic and then for ten years in Colchester where he was chief negotiator of the team who successfully negotiated the first contract in that town. In 1969, he accepted a contract with SAD 75 where he taught mathematics for 25 years, first at the Cone School in Topsham and then at Mt. Ararat, retiring in 1993.
The family moved to Litchfield, then Topsham, and in 1983 to Westport Island where they have resided ever since.
Mr. Crehore was active in all the towns he lived in. In Ashford, Connecticut he served on the Town of Ashford School Board and as President of the Lake Chaffee Improvement Association. He continued his interest in the schools by serving on the School Committee in Litchfield. When he moved to Westport Island, he served as Chairman of the first Comprehensive Plan and on the committees of subsequent ones, the Planning Board, the Board of Appeals, and six years as Third Selectman. He was a third degree Mason, belong to Morning Star Lodge A.F. and A.M. in Litchfield and to Crescent Chapter #54 of the Order of the Eastern Star in East Boothbay, National Education Association, the Maine Education Association, the Maine Education Association-Retired the Mid- Coast Retired Educators Association, and the Lincoln County Retired Educators Association.
Mr. Crehore was a life long competitive target shooter, beginning with being on a rifle team in high school and college. His interest continued and one could hear his rifle shooting when he was trying new loads or a new rifle. A Gunsmith and good friend in Brunswick, David Purinton, encouraged him to join the Lincoln County Rifle Club in Damariscotta and in 2003, he became the President, a job he kept for seven years. Under his watchful care, safety and environmental improvements were made leading to the outstanding rifle club the Lincoln County Rifle Club is today. A few years ago, he began to have eyesight problems which led to cutting back on his competitive shooting but in January 2012, he had a partial corneal transplant in his left eye and in March took second place in a 200 22 match with a perfect 200 out of 200 with nine centers. He was back and said when he got home, “I was grinning from ear to ear”.
Mr. Crehore was predeceased by his parents and by a sister, Cynthia Crehore DeWyk.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years and by his three children of whom he was very proud, Benjamin F., IV a career naval Officer and his fiancé Ronabelle Mobe; Kirsten L.C. Figueroa and her husband Steven of Winthrop, Maine and Karen Sue Thomas and her husband L. Todd of Midland, Michigan. His three grandchildren also survive him: Bryce T. and Emily S. Thomas of Midland, Michigan and Samuel T. Figueroa of Winthrop Maine. A sister-in-law, Susan C. Smith of Topsham, Maine; a brother-in-law, Bruce DeWyk of Lakewood, Colorado; a brother-in-law, Joseph A. MacDougald and his wife, Lisa of Madison, Connecticut, nieces and nephews in Colorado and Connecticut, a cousin, Frank P. Brown and his wife Gail of Thorndike, Maine as well as cousins by marriage in Maine, Rhode Island, Japan and Colorado and a legion of friends.
As one family member expressed: His optimism, wisdom, encyclopedic memory, curiosity, caring and genuine thoughtfulness for all around him made him someone so many were lucky to have in their lives.
His immediate family expressed that “we aren’t the same because of him and we won’t be the same without him.”
A tribute to Mr. Crehore will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the scholarship fund of the Mid- Coast Retired Educators Association in care of Mrs. Judy Michaud, 20 Tedford Rd., Topsham, Maine 04086.
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