Ronald A. Newcomb

HAMPDEN - Ronald Albert Newcomb, 73, died peacefully April 22, 2011, surrounded by family at home after an eight-year battle with Alzeheimer's disease. He was born March 11, 1938, in Livermore Falls, son of Leona L. (Chabot) and Richard M. Newcomb. After graduating from Livermore Falls High School in 1956, Ron began his life journey with a career at Livermore Shoe Co., marrying his beloved, Louise A. Boivin, in 1957, and soon thereafter had four children: three sons and a daughter. Sitting at his bedside, listening to his kind, generous heart beating during his final hours, it is easy to recall how he strived to be a professional human being, extending himself to literally hundreds of family, friends, co-workers and strangers for seven decades. He was a gentleman and a gentle man. In 1966, Ron and family moved to Brewer, where he began working as a shoe designer at Viner Bros., Inc. In 1982, he and Louise returned near his old stomping grounds, living in Jay and working as manager of product development at G.H. Bass Co., Wilton. When this factory closed in 1998, he accepted a position as manager of Technical Services, Yarmouth. During his years in the shoe business, he traveled extensively to include Europe, Puerto Rico, the Dominion Republic, South America, Asia and many U.S. states. Ron retired in 2000, after 45 years working in the shoe business, and he and Louise moved to Hampden to be nearer to their immediate family. As a practicing Roman Catholic, he was a member of St. Rose of Lima when living in Jay and St. Matthews when in Hampden. In his early teens, he taught himself the art of fly-tying. He was notorious for handing out newly-invented, as well as well-known flies, to friends and acquaintances. In 1986, Ron placed first in a fly-tying contest, winning a custom-made bamboo rod from Partridge of England. In 2000, he placed third in the FQSA World Championship Fly Tying Contest, receiving a bronze medal, and in 2002 second place with a silver medal. Photos and patterns of his flies appeared in multiple publications, including Fishing Atlantic Salmon by Joe Bates Jr. & Pamela Bates Richards; SPAWN magazine; and Fly Tyer magazine. As an avid angler, he was a great support and member of Penobscot, Eddington, Veazie, Northern Penobscot, Union River and SPAWN Salmon clubs. He felt it was vital to show support of each, putting together unique fly donations - taking an enormous amount of patience, agility, creativity and care. Once retired Ron volunteered at the Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation's Friends of Craig Brook Hatchery museum in Orland, as well as serving on the board of directors. As a volunteer he taught fly-tying there, as well as at adult education at Old Town High School, Bangor Recreation Department and L.L. Bean. Additionally, he volunteered as a Penobscot River Keeper, showing middle school children how to tie flies. Ron had many other hobbies and interests, such as woodworking and drawing exquisite pen and ink drawings. Ron was a member of Maine Archeological Society for almost two decades, being honored to participate with the University of Maine at Farmington on digs, learning proper techniques. On an independent dig with his son, Dana, they unearthed the largest 1,000-year clay vessel with the most pieces intact to date, which he donated and is on display at the Maine State Museum, Augusta. He learned how to flint knapp and demonstrated several years at the annual Native American Festival held in Bar Harbor. Since a young boy, he always enjoyed fishing and hunting. In the 1960s he became a registered Maine guide. Although he was an excellent archer and rifleman, he had the utmost respect for wildlife, using any animal that he harvested in its entirety. Ron is survived by his wife, Louise A. (Boivin) Newcomb; a son and his wife, Bruce R. and Karen Newcomb of Orrington; twin sons, Dana R. Newcomb of Rhode Island and Kirk R. and wife, Sarah Newcomb, of New York; daughter, Jane Campbell and husband, Daniel Campbell, of Brewer; and three grandchildren, Daisy Campbell, Nicholas Newcomb and Abigail Newcomb. He is also survived by his twin brother, Donald W. Newcomb; and brother, Charles H. "Lin" and Marsha Newcomb, all of Livermore Falls. He was predeceased by his parents; and brothers, Clarence R., Earl E. and George A. Newcomb. Family and friends are invited to visit 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, April 28, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 70 Western Ave., Hampden. A continued time of remembrance with light refreshments will be held in the church hall immediately after the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Friends of Craig Brook Hatchery, attention: John Laslie, Treasurer, P.O. Box A, 306 Hatchery Road, East Orland, ME 04431 or The Unified Clubs, care of Penobscot Salmon Club, P.O. Box 771, Bangor, ME 04402. Messages of condolence and memories may be shared through www.hampdengilpatrick.com.