Dana Edmund Wallace

BRUNSWICK -- Dana Edmund Wallace, 89, of Brunswick died Monday, March 19, 2007, at his home on Mere Point of complications related to kidney disease.

The son of Chester and Carrie (Jackson) Wallace, he was born on the Lisbon family farm Oct. 17, 1917. His lifelong passions for track, winter sports, and Boy Scouting began there in those early years.

While at Lisbon High School, he became an Eagle Scout, played hockey and competed in track. He graduated as valedictorian and class president, and continued his studies and running track at Bates College, from which he received his bachelor of arts degree in 1939.

Dana taught math, science and debating at Presque Isle High School and also coached track, Nordic and Alpine skiing, and speed skating. He led a local Boy Scout troop in Presque Isle, as he did years later for his son's troop in Hallowell. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served as a meteorologist during World War II in England, where he met and married his first wife, Jessica Harris.

After returning from the military service, he relocated to Hallowell and joined the Sea and Shore Fisheries Department, now the Department of Marine Resources, where he served for 38 years. As Maine's assistant research director and director of industrial services, he focused on shellfish management and development of the shellfish industry. He wrote numerous articles for professional publications. Traveling to towns and classrooms throughout the state, he gave lectures advocating community aquaculture. Whether with fellow scientists, second-graders, clam diggers or politicians, Dana proselytized the preciousness of our marine resources. He had the "common touch," relating well to all. Much time was spent in Washington, D.C., advising Congress on fisheries legislation. Meetings with U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy and Leverett Saltonstall resulted in passage of the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act that still supplies funds for fisheries research.

Since retirement in 1983, Dana continued marine-related activities, serving, for example, on the board of directors of Friends of Casco Bay. Private ventures into aquaculture followed, most recently by growing oysters at Chance Along Farm Inc.

Throughout his long career. Dana received many awards and honors. He was especially pleased when the educational center of the Beal's Island Regional Hatchery was named for him in 1991. One year earlier, the Audubon Society of Maine had selected him as Conservationist of the Year. In addition, the annual conservationist award bestowed by the Casco Bay Estuary Project was his in both 1996 and 2002. During 1999, Mr. Wallace was the first recipient of the Longard Gulf of Maine Award for volunteerism presented by the governor.

While raising his family, skiing and mountain climbing were pursued with the Abenaki Ski and Outing Club. He volunteered each year to maintain and mark a section of the Appalachian Trail and co-authored a book about the Maine Appalachian Trail.

From 1956 to 1970, he was initially on the ski patrol and then a ski instructor at Sugarloaf Mountain. For the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif., he served as a cross-country ski official. His summer and fall recreation involved running road races, including the race up Sugarloaf Mountain, which he completed annually until the age of 72. From 1984 to 2006, he officiated as a timer at track meets at Bowdoin College. As recently as January of this year, 2007, Dana skied at Sugarloaf with family.

He was predeceased by a son, Kim D. Wallace; a sister, Thelma Stanhope Jalbert; and two sons-in-law, David Caron and John LaVanway.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Mary Little Huggins Wallace of Brunswick; two daughters, Valerie Wallace of Alexandria, Va., and Kerry-Sue Walters and her husband, Lon, of Augusta; a stepson, Edward Huggins and his wife, Sarah, of South Portland; a stepdaughter, Sara Caron of Brunswick; a daughter-in-law, Susan Wallace of Hallowell; nine grandchildren, including Gregory Norris and his wife, Angela, of Alexandria, Christopher Dana Walters and his wife, Lori, of Hallowell, Matthew Walters and his wife, Jennifer, of Hallowell, Jessica Caron Georoff and her husband, Tim, of Ithaca, N.Y., Lucas Caron of Brunswick, Colin and Hannah Huggins of South Portland, and John and Jessica Anne Wallace of Hallowell; two great-grandchildren, Gabriel Norris of Alexandria and Grace Walters of Hallowell; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and reception will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, at Bowdoin College, Moulton Union, in Brunswick.

Condolences may be expressed at http://www.funeralalternatives.net

Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives, LLC, 500 Route 1, Yarmouth, ME 04096.