Ian B. Ormon

Date of Death: November 25, 2014
Date of Birth: April 1, 1937
Ian B. Ormon, 77, of Leeds, ME, known as Brodie to his family and friends, passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2014. He was born in Waltham, MA on April 1, 1937, the son of James B. Ormon and Nina M. Ormon. Ian was a graduate of the University of Southern Maine and received his Masters of Art Education at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Childhood summers on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick and summer jobs in Rangeley, Maine convinced him early in life that he wanted to live on a farm and in a rural setting. After living in several small towns in central Maine, Ian and his family moved to Leeds in 1973. He devoted most of his life to making his childhood dream a reality at Coffin Brook Farm. His creativity and talent came through in everything he touched and his life's work can be seen in the acres of pristine fields, miles of stone walls and restored 1830 farmhouse. He also built a post and beam wood shed and numerous stone buildings, one of which was his winter painting studio where he spent many evenings creating his art.
Ian worked as an educator in Auburn, ME until his retirement in 1996. He retired to the farm and cultivated his various hobbies. Ian was a published author of both short stories and poetry, sold paintings out of his gallery on the farm, made silver jewelry and restored the family home. When not creating, Ian devoted much of his life to the various four-legged friends that lived on the farm.
Proud of his Scottish and Irish heritage, Ian taught school for a year in England as part of the Fulbright Exchange program and made numerous return trips to Great Britain and Scotland. One of his favorite poets was Robert Burns, whom he quoted often at family gatherings.
Ian enjoyed endless hours reading and studying on various topics that often found their ways into his paintings and short stories. Most recently Ian was a docent at Bowdoin College, painted with the Pleine Aire Painters and volunteered at the Leeds Historical Society.
Ian is survived by his wife Janice H. Ormon of Leeds, ME; sons Jonathan B. Ormon of Leeds, ME and Ian J. Ormon and his wife Kim L. Greenwood of Duxbury, VT; and his sister Elizabeth Sparrell and husband Jim Sparrell of Damariscotta, ME.
There will be a memorial service for Ian at 1:00PM on Sunday, December 7 at the Leeds Community Church on Church Hill Rd. in Leeds, ME. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you please consider a donation to the Leeds Historical Society, Att: Eileen Coyne, 763 River Road, Leeds, ME 04263.