HAMPDEN — Glendon Dean, 94, of Hampden, Maine, passed away on May 31, 2024, in Bangor.

He started a long and varied working career at the Bangor YMCA while still a teenager. His list of employers included Rivers & Gilman Canoe Factory, Hartford Rayon, Lane Construction, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Beacon Realty, and several others. He ended his working days as a self-employed handyman due to the many referrals that came his way. 

He was a man of many talents and interests. As a schoolboy, he was often found on the playing fields and courts of Bangor, although his passion was football. Later as a young man, he learned to ski at Kings Mountain in Brewer and continued to ski into his 60's at every mountain in Maine and several in Colorado. He was a promising boxer as a teenager and once participated in a bout against the state middleweight champion. When working at Rivers and Gilman, he canoed on the rivers and streams of Maine. He was also a participant in the Kenduskeag and Souadabscook canoe races, finishing 3rd in the inaugural race of the latter. Later he was an avid boater and sailor on the lakes and bays of Maine. When on dry land, he loved taking his motorcycle around the backroads of the state. Not to be forgotten, he always had time for a game of football, basketball, baseball, or paddle-tennis with his kids and their friends in the backyard. 

When at home he spent his free time with many pursuits. He read poetry and quoted many classic American poets. During the winter months, he built several wooden model boats and read extensively about the Civil War and WWII. During warmer weather, he worked his flower gardens and haunted yard sales to grow his large and eclectic antique collections. Lastly, he could usually be found at the Bangor Raceway when the horses were running, making his final bet last fall. 

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Natalie (Bryant); children Sharon Horr (David), Glendon Dean (Laurie), Kevin Dean (Rae Ann), and Trevor Dean (Colleen); grandchildren Jason Horr (Erin), Christopher Horr (Denise), Tracy Low (Ben), Keith Dean (Amy), Matthew Dean, Sean Norcross (Ray Bechtold), Shannon Nelson (Donavan), Erin Denny (Quinn), Trent Dean (Shannon), and Tatum Dean; great-grandchildren Riley Kenny, Joshua Horr, Devin Horr, Ellie Horr, C.J. Horr, Kyle Horr, Maria Low, Lauren Low, Eliot Dean, Declan Dean, Zachary Nelson (Cynthia), Amanda Nelson, Eliot Denny, Caleb Denny; and one great-great grandchild, Evelyn Nelson.

He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families. 

Visitation will be on Thursday, June 6, from 4 - 6 p.m., at the Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast. 

A graveside service will be held Friday, at 11 a.m., at the Lakeview Cemetery in West Hampden, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hampden Historical Society. 

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com