Charles Irwin Pressey

Charles Irwin Pressey September 17, 1944 December 1, 2016 Charles Irwin Pressey, 72 WESTBROOK - ""What's a henway?"" Charlie would often ask his children and grandkids just to amuse them, always getting a laugh in return when he would add... ""oh, about 2-3 pounds."" This and many other examples of his ever-ready good humor will be missed by those who knew and loved him. Charlie was born in Portland on September 17, 1944, to Charles Pressey, Sr. and Evelyn Harmon Pressey. He passed away on Thursday, December 1, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, after a 13 year journey with Alzheimer's disease. Loved ones who have predeceased Charlie were his parents, his sister, Sylvia Morrell, several aunts, uncles, cousins and his good friend, Dave Barter. While a senior at Portland High School in 1962, Charlie won the Maurice Varney trophy at the Maine Student Craftsman's Fair. His winning entry was a seven bearing crankshaft for a six cylinder engine machined from a single block of steel to a tolerance of two-thousandths of an inch, crafted manually long before the advent of today's technology. Charlie married Lenora Martelle in Portland on September 11, 1964. They resided in Portland for eleven years, then moved to Freeport for 35 years and returned to Portland in 2009. Charlie went on to graduate from Maine Vocational Technical Institute (now SMCC) in the Machine Tool Technology program. He worked for a short time as a machinist at Southworth Machine and South Portland Engineering . He then entered the Technology Education program at the University of Maine-Gorham, graduating with a B.S. degree, and later obtained his Masters degree in Secondary School Education from USM in Portland. Charlie's higher education was interrupted by six years in the Marine Corps Reserves, Combat Ready Division, along with his buddy, Walt Jellison, where he thoroughly enjoyed rifle marksmanship, demolitions and explosives, earning several badges and commendations, rising in rank to Sergeant and receiving an honorable discharge in 1973. Upon graduation from college, Charlie began his teaching career at Portland High School, then was awarded an internship and became Assistant Principal at King Middle School, where he and Principal Donald Stokes shared the Superintendent's Award for Excellence. Next, he took an Acting Principalship at Lincoln Middle School before accepting the job of Principal at Lyman Moore Middle School in Portland. After spending 23 years working in Portland schools, Charlie served four years as Coordinating Principal of the Portland Middle Schools Renovation Project of the city's three middle schools. His job was to supervise, coordinate and trouble-shoot every logistical facet of a disruptive construction and expansion project on staff and students. Simultaneously moving hundreds of students, their furniture and equipment across town and back again at the optimum time for both builders and staff was a considerable feat. His skillful ability to work well with administrators, teachers, support personnel, parents, community officials and the community at large aided in the success of the project. When that position ended, as a Christian, it delighted Charlie to go to work as Director and Chairman of the Board at The Root Cellar Ministries in Portland during the construction of their new facility on Washington Avenue. Afterward, Charlie joined The Salvation Army as Director of Community Service Programs where he managed direct assistance of food and clothing, Meals on Wheels, wellness clinics, Thanksgiving and Christmas programs, and the Senior Center for Healthy Aging. He used to say that he had the best job in the world--he got to go to work each day and give stuff away to needy people. It gave him great joy to do so. Charlie was an upbeat, sociable guy who, as he would tell you, credited the leadership and experiences at The Portland Boys Club and the Boy Scouts when he was younger for the man he would become. He was an original member of Sha-Goie-Watha, a small sportsman's club begun by some of the Boy Scouts leaders, where he thoroughly enjoyed lifelong outdoor sports activities and the camaraderie of friends. Charlie's version of hunting consisted of dressing in his bright orange clothing, walking into the woods and sitting at the base of a tree to have a good nap. It's anyone's guess how many deer took a look at him, sneered only in the way a deer might, and then trotted on, knowing they were safe when they came across Charlie. Other Charlie favorites were: flying model airplanes with his Dad, stock car racing at Beech Ridge Speedway, trips to Mt. Katahdin, motorcycling, snowmobiling, 1960's doo-wop music, fly fishing, cardboard canoe races, snowshoeing, hiking, camping with family, gunsmithing, Tuesday morning breakfasts with his Lyman Moore teacher friends, projects at the church, getaways at Otisfield, and making himself and others laugh. Charlie was a skilled craftsman. A perfectionist in his work, anything he built was constructed to last through the ages. It seemed to many that he owned every tool known to man. He was a member of the National and Maine Associations of Principals, Deering Masonic Order and Deering Grange. He faithfully attended the First Baptist Church in Freeport for 35 years and served as President, member of the Finance Committee and Trustees, helping to maintain the church properties. Those who knew Charlie would say he was a gentleman who never outgrew his desire to stand up when a woman walked in the room or to give his seat to someone else. He lived a life of service to others, always ready to jump in and help when asked or needed. Charlie enjoyed the company and trust of many friends throughout his life. Heartfelt appreciation is given to loyal friends, Paula and Alan York of Standish and Nancy and Paul Wagner of Scarborough, whose friendship and support have each spanned over 50 years and were a great source of comfort through Charlie's illness. Surviving Charlie are his wife, Lenora; his children--daughter Katherine and husband, Ben Kidson, son, Michael and fiancee, Allyson Nicholson--all of Windham. He loved his children unconditionally and was supremely proud of the person each had become. He will also be missed by his precious grandchildren, Gabriel and Lily Kidson. His sister, Loraine, and her husband Hugh (Sonny) Butler, several nephews and extended family also survive him. The family would like to thank the home based caregivers from At Home Family Supports and the angels at St. Joseph's Rehabilitation & Residence and Hospice of Southern Maine who provided professional, tender and compassionate care during Charlie's final days. Visiting hours will be held 5-7 pm, Monday, December 5, at A.T. Hutchins Funeral & Cremation Services, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland. A funeral service and reception will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, December 6, at First Baptist Church, 360 Canco Road, Portland. Those wishing to remember Charlie may make gifts in his name to: The Root Cellar 94 Washington Avenue Portland, ME 04101 or The Salvation Army 297 Cumberland Avenue Portland, ME 04101

Charles Irwin Pressey

September 17, 1944 - December 1, 2016

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