Daniel M. Doolittle

Daniel M Doolittle, 81, of Kennebunk, Maine, originally of Darien, died on Monday, March 6, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice in Scarborough, Maine following complications from surgery Mr Doolittle was born on May 20, 1935 to Dwight N and Dorothy M (Smith) Doolittle in Stamford He attended Darien High School, class of 1953, and graduated from Williston Academy, Northampton, MA, in 1955 Mr Doolittle attended St Lawrence University in Canton, NY He married Cynthia Crider in 1971 and they lived in Darien until his retirement 2001

Mr Doolittle learned how to skate and played hockey on Darien ponds in his youth He taught youth skating and hockey to local children, some of whom would later join his hockey team at Darien High School He was Darien High School head coach for a number of years, finally winning the state championship for Darien High in 1969 Mr Doolittle played hockey for Williston Academy and also for St Lawrence University He was also a member of the Home Oilers, a semi-pro team made up of players from Fairfield County

Mr Doolittle worked for Pitney-Bowes as a service repair technician before being drafted into the United States Army He spent two years stationed in France using skills he learned with the U S Army Signal Corp and worked installing and repairing phones at his base Mr Doolittle was home for almost a year before being recalled into active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis Mr Doolittle returned to Pitney-Bowes as a technical service writer He became manager of technical publications and continued employment with the copier division  After 40 years, Mr Doolittle retired from the company The next day, he and Cynthia moved to Kennebunk, Maine 

In Maine, Mr Doolittle belonged to The Church on the Cape in Cape Porpoise and to Laudholm Farm in Wells He was an avid wood turner and loved creating things out of wood He was always fixing or building something Mr Doolittle loved his family around him and enjoyed his summers on the water in Maine, often kayaking with the loons

 Mr Doolittle is survived by his wife of 46 years, Cynthia Doolittle of Kennebunk; two daughters: Alyssa M Doolittle of Newark, Vermont and Robin Illian and her husband Randy of Portland, Maine; six grandchildren: LunaMay Doolittle Waterman, Gordon Simpson Doolittle, Jack Simpson, Francesca C Illian Sparrow, Leonard Daniel Illian, and Sequoia Shriver Illian; one sister, Donna E Rajczewski of Darien, Darien's Town Clerk; two nieces: Lee R Richardson of Burlington, North Carolina and Dana Turton of Richmond, Virginia; and many cousins

A memorial service will be held at The Church on the Cape on Saturday, May 6, at 2 pm In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lakes Environmental Association of Bridgton, ME; Laudholm Farm at Wells Reserve in Wells, Maine; or the music program at The Church of the Cape, Cape Porpoise, Maine