Hiram Percy Maxim II

Lyme - Hiram Percy Maxim II, 72, of Lyme, formerly of Farmington, died at home on Jan. 12, 2008, after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer.

He was born Sept. 28, 1935, in Hartford, to the late Hiram Hamilton and Alison (Heminway) Maxim. He was a grandson of Hiram Percy Maxim, Hartford-based inventor and founder of the American Radio Relay League, and a great-grandson of Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim, inventor of the Maxim machine gun. He attended the Kingswood School in West Hartford and graduated from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville. He graduated from Yale University in 1957, where he was a member of the Yale varsity soccer team. After graduating from college, Hiram was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, and, following his discharge from active duty in 1959, served in the Naval Reserve until 1963.

First employed by the Capewell Company in Hartford, he joined the Wiremold Company in Elmwood in 1966 as manufacturing manager. He was elected vice-president for manufacturing and material control in 1977, was promoted to group vice-president in 1980, and to vice-president for strategic planning in 1986. In 1987, he retired from Wiremold and purchased the John L. Prentis Company in New London, a small reprographic company, and served as owner/manager of the re-named Prentis-Maxim Company until its sale in 1993. He later worked as the part-time production manager for Ashlawn Farm Coffee in Lyme from 2002-2007.

An active volunteer in community organizations throughout his adult life, he developed a strong interest in environmental issues, beginning his involvement in this field in the 1960s before the environmental movement was well established. He served as president of the Farmington River Watershed Association from 1969-1974 and again from 1976-1978, and was elected honorary director of that organization in 1980. He was also president of the Farmington Land Trust from 1974-1978, of the CT chapter of the Connecticut River Watershed Council from 1983-1987, and of the Lyme Land Trust from 1988-1991. He served on the Governor's Environmental Policy Committee in 1970. He was elected to the Farmington Town Council in 1979, serving two terms until 1984, and was the council chairman from 1982-1984. Also in Farmington, he served as chairman of the Barney House Advisory Council for the University of Connecticut Foundation from 1973-1978, and was a trustee of the Farmington Village Library from 1975-1979.

In 1995, Hiram began serving as the Lyme Town Historian, a position which he held until his death. His interest in history and historic preservation was spurred by his move to live full time in Lyme and his restoration of his house there, an 18th century farmhouse purchased by his Maxim grandparents in 1924. As town historian, he worked to restore several of the town's colonial-era cemeteries and researched more than 70 of its historic houses. He recently published a book compilation of his newsletters on Lyme town history.

Hiram was a talented athlete and particularly enjoyed skiing and golf. He was a long-standing member of the Old Lyme Country Club, and wrote a history of the club that was published for members in 2003. He was also a devoted sailor for many years, with a deep appreciation for wooden boats and the old days of the sailing ship.

He is survived by his children, Sarah Maxim (Nobertus Nuranto) of Kensington, Calif., Hiram Hamilton Maxim II (Caroline Rumley) of Atlanta, Ga., and Merritt Maxim (Lefki Michael) of Carlisle, Mass.; and by five grandchildren, Lucy and Josephine Nuranto, Audrey Maxim, and Demetri and Cassandra Maxim. He was previously married to Marjorie Patterson Mead of Farmington, and after their divorce, to Martha Lynch, now of Wilmington, N.C.

His children would like to express their great thanks for the care given to their father by the Hospice and Palliative Care nurses of Middlesex Hospital and by Lisa, Rush, and Daishara, his caregivers at home.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, at the Lyme Public Hall. Burial will be private.

Fulton-Theroux Funeral Service in Old Lyme is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lyme Public Hall Association, 249 Hamburg Road, Lyme CT 06371.