Joel W. Stevens

KENNEBUNK — Joel W. Stevens, 67, of Kennebunk, former president of Kennebunk Savings Bank, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, with his family at his side.

He was born July 8, 1941, in Portland, the son of John Calvin Stevens II and Rebecca Shaw Stevens.

Joel grew up in Cape Elizabeth and later graduated from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. In 1970, he began his career in banking at the Depositors Trust Co. in Augusta, where he eventually became executive vice president and senior lending officer. Joel was also president and CEO of their subsidiary bank, Depositors Trust Co. of Southern Maine — later Key Bank of Maine — of which he also became president and CEO. Due to his refusal to lay off Maine-based employees, Joel left Key Bank, and became president and CEO of First New Hampshire Bank's First Capital Bank in Concord, N.H., and Central Bank in Laconia, N.H.

In 1993 Joel moved to Kennebunk and joined Kennebunk Savings Bank as president and CEO, where he led the creation of a corporate culture demonstrating that by putting employee welfare, customer satisfaction and community service first, superior profits and growth would be achieved. He was the prime architect of the bank's Community Investment Program, which provides a full 10 percent of the bank's yearly earnings to area nonprofit and charitable organizations. Since the program's inception, the bank has contributed more than $6 million within York County.

Throughout his career, Joel was active in many civic, community and industry organizations in Maine and New Hampshire, including the Kennebec Valley Medical Center, Mercy Hospital and The Three Mile Island Camp Committee of the Appalachian Mountain Club (as chair). Upon moving to Kennebunk, Joel served as a board and committee member of The Brick Store Museum, Northern York County YMCA, the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, the Portland Concert Association, and the United Way of York County.

Professionally, Joel served on the Maine Bankers Association board and the Maine Association of Community Banks board (as state chair). He is a past member of the board of directors of the America's Community Bankers, where he served as chair of the Mutual Institutions Committee.

He received numerous awards and citations for his leadership and community service, including the 2006 Elise Kittredge Award from the United Way of York County. After retiring in 2006, the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce established the Joel W. Stevens Award for community involvement.

Joel's passion for banking was surpassed only by his passion for sailing the Okeedokee and Okeedokee II with his beloved Betsy along his beloved coast of Maine. Inland, Joel and his family enjoyed canoeing, kayaking and fishing, especially during their yearly stay on Three Mile Island.

Joel is survived by his wife, Betsy Thayer Stevens; two children, Christopher Stevens and his wife, Terri, of Kennebunk, and Gwendolyn Hall and her husband, Bobby, of Cumberland; two step-children, Amy Bayha and her husband, Tim, of Kennebunk, and Lee McGlashan and his wife, Rachel, of Wells; one brother, Paul Stevens and his wife, Dodo, of Portland; two nephews, John and Nate Stevens; 11 grandchildren, Spencer, Kyle, Nick, Dylan, William, Jamie, Eamon, Declan, Sophie, Alex, and Ava; and his former wife and mother of his children, Starr S. Stevens, of Scarborough.

Joel's family wishes to acknowledge the kind and compassionate care received from his caregivers over these past several weeks, and a special thank you to Gosnell Memorial Hospice House for their care.

SERVICES: Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the South Congregational Church, Temple St., Kennebunkport. Interment will be at Hope Cemetery in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joel's memory may be made to the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks, P.O. Box 1531, Kennebunkport, ME 04046 (visit www.educationfoundationofthekennebunks.org); or Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Road, Scarborough, ME 04074. Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk. Visit www.bibberfuneral.com.