Benjamin Pasquale

Benjamin Pasquale, age 49, of South Portland, Maine, died peacefully on July 3, 2025, with family by his side. Ben's passing came a short time after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Ben was born November 18, 1975, in Lewiston, Maine, to Raymond Pasquale and Kerrie (Knapp) Pasquale. During childhood he was often found fishing at Bates Pond, building forts or riding his bike. In junior high, he moved to South Portland, Maine, spending his summers in Eliot, Maine. Shortly after graduating South Portland High School in 1994, Ben met his future wife Rachel at Pizza Hut where they both worked. They became lifetime residents of South Portland. Married in 2004, they were blessed by the birth of their beautiful daughter, Isabella, in 2010.
First and foremost, Ben was a steadfast family person, fiercely loyal and passionate about tradition. Cooking bound him to his family. It was woven into his soul and nourished connections to those he loved most. There are endless photos and text exchanges sharing recipes and celebrating meals created. We will all remember heated debates surrounding the right sauce to use when making eggplant, how to get the perfect loaf of cranberry bread or whether an antipasto platter should include tuna. If ever you shared a meal with Ben, you know about his obsession with hot sauce, his knack for dropping food on his shirt and the true joy he found in a good, home-cooked meal. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday, and Ben would spend days planning and preparing. There was no reining in the amount of food that was cooked, all from scratch and sprinkled with a touch of good old Italian "yelling" to ensure only the tastiest meal was set forth.
Ben worked tirelessly to build a comfortable life for his family, and accomplished his dream of starting his own business, Pasquale's Property Service. He went on to create a highly respected name for himself in the local business community and has many clients who consider him a friend. They will miss his kindness, extreme attention to detail, and impeccable work ethic.
Ben was anything but boring and rarely sat still. He was a lover of all-things music, attending various concerts. Although he'd declare, "I'm getting too old for this," implying the music was too loud and the show had gone too late into the night, he continued attending. He was a talented drummer, a collector of 33's and a fan of WMPG. He played in bands, wrote music with friends and continued to tap his hands and feet to the rhythm and beat even during his final days.
Ben felt most at home when he was on the ocean and he spent endless hours boating and fishing off the coast of Maine. During summer weekends, he would taxi family and friends through Casco Bay, sipping cold tea from his Yeti, sporting his Pelagic hat, wearing a t-shirt (with the sleeves cut off), and casting a smile from ear to ear. While these trips appeased his desire to be on the water, his true passion and joy came when he would steam out to the "secret squirrel" tuna grounds somewhere in the Atlantic. Anchored with lines in, he and Jamie (or another fishing buddy) would solve the problems of the world while waiting to hear the click of the rod going off. Often there would be hours spent battling the fish (hence the name "Santiago"). Requiring sheer will, perseverance and a sense of adventure, tuna fishing was a perfect metaphor for how Ben lived his life. Patient and intense, calm and steady. One of his proudest accomplishments was acquiring his captain's license. Being a rock-solid dad and a loving husband were also high on his list.
Ben made his mark on this world with cherished ingredients that will be shared and savored his big heart, his strong and stubborn personality and his love of family and friends. We will miss everything about him.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, July 24th from 4pm-7pm at Hobbs Funeral home in South Portland.