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Colwyn Fenton Haskell

Date of Death: March 1, 2011

Date of Birth: May 20, 1932

Biography:

AUBURN — Colwyn F. Haskell, 78, of Paradise Hill, Bethel, died on March 1, at the Hospice House.

He was born on May 20, 1932, the son of Claude and Josephine Haskell. He graduated from Norway High School as the Valedictorian of the Class of 1950, married his beloved high school sweetheart, Judith Esther Klain and attended the University of Maine, where he earned his master’s degree in chemical engineering.

During his college years, he was a member of Phi Eta Kappa and he captained the cross country and the indoor and outdoor track teams. He was a lifelong supporter of both the academic and athletic efforts of the university.

After graduating from the university, he took employment with Oxford Paper Co. in Rumford, where he worked until his retirement in 1991. Wyn and Judy moved to Bethel in 1956, working hard to design and have built their house on Paradise Hill, where they raised their son, James and daughter, Kathryn. In 1974, they brought teen-aged Jeanie Manson into their home, so that she might finish high school in her hometown, thereby acquiring a third child: truly their “chosen” daughter.

Colwyn Haskell was a proud 33rd Degree Mason, serving more than 50 years in many leadership positions, in Blue Lodge Bethel 97, Oxford Chapter 29, Oxford Council 14, District and Grand Chapter of Maine; Commandery, Red Cross of Constantine and Scottish Rite.

He was an avid downhill skier all his life, serving on the ski patrol at Sunday River, where he was rightly famous for his fast and fearless runs down the mountain. He taught his children to ski and proudly watched his son, James win races on high school courses around the state. When the time came, he funded his grandchildrens’ skiing at Sunday River as well. He dearly loved a succession of four foolish English Springer Spaniels over the years on Paradise Hill, spoiling them rotten and enjoying their antics around the house and yard that he so carefully maintained.

Colwyn faced the greatest challenge of his life when he suddenly lost his wife, Judith in December 2005. He made his family proud by the way he bore this loss, leaving us all with an example of courage, duty and good “Maine grit” that we will take with us through the years. We are grateful for the constant support of his Masonic brotherhood; for the fond and watchful eyes of friends and fellow-skiers Murray and Barbara Gross; and to all the good neighbors of Bethel who — in the best tradition of small-town life – made sure his days included the touch of their friendship and concern.

He will live always in the hearts of his son, James A. Haskell and his wife, Jane and their family; daughter, Kathryn H. Davis, and her husband, Michael; his grandchildren, Alexander H. Davis and his wife, Meg, Nora Davis, and Owen Davis; daughter, Jean M. Waite and her husband, Greg; also grieving his loss are his sister-in-law, Joyce Wilson and her husband, George, of Bloomington, Ind., and Norway Lake and their family.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Francis Kieliszek of Oxford Hills Internal Medicine and Dr. Lauren Michelakes and the nurses at Maine Medical Center. The wonderful staff of Hospice House in Auburn offered us peace and comfort in Dad’s final hours such as we could never have imagined. There are no words to express our gratitude for their gift.

There will be no public funeral services. Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Colwyn F. Haskell to the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME, or to a Masonic charity of their choice. At his request, we will join his ashes with those of his beloved Judy, at their stone in Lakeview Cemetery, in the summer. We will share some of his favorite strawberry-rhubarb pie, and think of Wyn and Judy picnicking in that field above Little Pennesseewassee when they were young and so in love.

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