James R. "Jim" Littlefield

BROOKSVILLE - James "Jim" R. Littlefield, 66, died peacefully June 25, 2010, at a Bangor hospital, after a three and a half year campaign against multiple myeloma. Jim was the proprietor of Oakland House Seaside Inn and Cottages, Brooksville, for many years, where he welcomed with warmth and grace the thousands of guests drawn there. Like his father, Elmir L. Littlefield, Jim was active in East Penobscot Resort Association. Jim was also active in Maine Restaurant Association. He was awarded the Business Person of the Year award in 2008 by Maine Inn Keepers Association, of which he also was a member. He received their Hall of Fame award in 2009. Jim is survived by his wife, Sally Middleton Littlefield of Brooksville; daughter, Sally L. McGuigan and her husband, Sean McGuigan; son, Timothy Littlefield of New York; stepson, James C. Whitehead of Cincinnati; and stepson, Bryan S. Whitehead and his wife, Justyna Whitehead, of Warsaw, Poland. A wealth of close and more distant relatives include his brother, Herrick B. Littlefield of Darien, Conn.; his brother, John F. Littlefield and his wife, Karen Littlefield; his sister, Nancy L. Stine and her husband, Frederick Stine, of Brooksville; and his cousins, Janet B. Canfield of Memphis, Tenn., and Barbara Pluff of Brunswick. Jim's family has deep roots in the area going back to the first land grant family in 1767, John and Hannah Billings. John and Hannah had 10 children. The fourth generation heir to the Billings Farm was Jim's great-grandmother, Flavilla Billings, who married Emery Houghton Herrick of Brooklin. They opened Oakland House, July 4, 1889. Their daughter, Josephine Herrick, married sea captain Frederick James Littlefield. Their son, Elmir Littlefield, was Jim's father - a trained engineer and innkeeper too. There are many second cousins and other relatives who represent much of the local population, another reason why Oakland House Seaside Resort is considered home to so many. A memorial celebration will be held 1 p.m. Sept. 4 at Blue Hill Congregational Church. Contributions may be made in memory of Jim to Blue Hill Heritage Trust Stewardship Fund, P.O. Box 222, Blue Hill, ME 04614.