Our beloved member David Dexter has passed away. His obituaries are below.
From the Portland Press Herald:
From funeralternatives.net:
David Huyler Dexter, born on March 7, 1945 (a few weeks before the death of FDR, as David liked to say, passed away at his home in Auburn, Maine, on May 25, 2026.
He was the son of Russell Austin Dexter and Margaret Herbert Dexter. Later, upon his birth mother’s passing, he was adopted by Elizabeth Hempstead Dexter following her marriage to Russell in 1973. He is survived by seven cousins who summered with him at Onawa Lake, Maine, for over 50 years; Close friend Hartley (Bud) and Ellie Connell of Torrington, CT; Cousin Brian Dexter and others of NH and CT; his former wife, Nancy Hohmann, and her children, who remain close friends; and numerous other close friends, including Steve Sylvester and Dan Simpson. David was a member of the Durham Friends Meeting (Quaker).
He was born in Portland, Maine, and lived in Camp Lejeune, NC, where his father served as a Marine. The family later moved to Calais, Maine. He spent his high school years living in Auburn, graduating from Edward Little High School with the Class of 1963.
David lived a life filled with a variety of interests, including literature, history, politics, environmental concerns, and acting, all of which he approached with a sense of humor and sensitivity that were much appreciated by those with whom he interacted.
David graduated from Aurora University in Illinois with a degree in literature in 1967. At Aurora, he was editor of the literary magazine and earned membership in Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. During the summers of his junior and senior years, he worked at the Summit House atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
David earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Maine. His M.Ed. studies included coursework at Oxford, Harvard, and Boston universities.
Upon graduating from Aurora, David accepted a position with the Oxford Hills School District in South Paris. He continued there for 25 years as a high school honors English literature teacher, and as an advisor to the National Honor Society and Student Council. He also served as a drama director and counselor for the school’s student history club. David’s ability to use humor when dealing with difficult situations at school made him a favorite among students, staff, and administrators. Many former students report that David was a strong positive influence on their high school experience.
David was a board member of the Maine Council for English Language Arts and the National Council of Teachers of English. He served the Maine organization as president, secretary, and, for 36 years, treasurer. He was also a Bowdoin College Teacher Scholar for two years.
David joined L.L. Bean in 1993 as a customer service representative in the international department, handling calls from customers around the world and celebrities requiring special assistance. David’s ability to connect with customers, using humor and his encyclopedic knowledge of literature, history, and politics, made him a favorite. David was presented with the prestigious Bean’s Best Award for his service in 2001 and retired after 20 years with the company.
David was widely read, not only in English literature but especially in history. He was a particular expert in Maine history and was invited to speak and headline both historical and English teacher conferences throughout the United States and Canada. He participated in several National Endowment for the Humanities programs, including one at the Taft Institute at the Johnson Library in Austin, Texas, in 1990.
David had a long-term interest in politics, attending every Democratic Party state convention since 1970 and serving as a delegate to the 1988 Democratic Party National Convention. He was particularly proud of having been involved in the campaigns of Sargent Shriver and Paul Simon.
David was a pacifist and activist, participating in peace demonstrations for many years. During the Vietnam War, he volunteered for alternative service as a conscientious objector, serving as the director of an award-winning Title III education program in Maine.
David was an accomplished actor, appearing in numerous college, summer, and community theater productions, including The Sound of Music, Oliver!, Guys and Dolls, and Anything Goes. His roles were usually comic characters, and David’s sense of humor frequently stole the show, making him highly sought after on the Maine theater circuit.
He was co-creator of the Maine Public television quiz show “So You Think You Know Maine” which ran from 1976 until 1989. David was the most frequent judge on the program.
David was a member of numerous conservation and environmental organizations in New Hampshire and Maine at both the statewide and local levels. His interest in
the environment reflected his parents’ love of the natural world.
David was a keen student of genealogy, finding connections to four U.S. presidents, including his 7th first cousin, John Adams.
He was an avid traveler, having visited all U.S. states except Hawaii and all Canadian provinces, and most of Western Europe, especially France and the United Kingdom.
A service of prayer and remembrance will be held at the family cemetery plot at the Elmwood Cemetery, Franconia, NH, on June 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Donations inhonor of his memory are suggested to:
• Durham Friends Meeting 532 Quaker Meeting House Road Durham, Maine 04222
• The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests 54 Portsmouth St. Concord, NH 03301
• The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society 55 Strawberry Avenue Lewiston, Maine 04240
