Chester E. Pettengill

Chester E. Pettengill, 88, lifetime resident of Cliff Island, Maine, passed away at his home on the Island surrounded by his beloved sister Louise Estabrook and the love of the entire Island. Chester was born on Tyng Street in Portland Maine on February 6, 1936. He went to Cliff Island’s one room schoolhouse for primary school and then to a Seventh Day Adventist school in Portland. Chester was a devoted Seventh Day Adventist his entire life. Chester was a loyal employee of the Portland Public Schools for 55 years and had just recently retired. Chester was the Island taxi driver, and he was the Island lifeline, delivering packages and mail to Cliff Islanders through hurricanes and blizzards, through snow and rain, heat and cold, and gloom of night over many, many years. Chester was the island musician, playing piano for all celebrations and weekly hymn sings during the summer. He was an exceptional artist, making beautiful paintings, and painted rocks and buoys to create astonishing images. He could look at a rock and see the image of a house or a bouquet of flowers, or whatever else was hidden inside. In his later years he turned to photography, taking beautiful photos of his beloved Island, many of which were collected in annual calendars. As the Pettengill family has lived on Cliff Island for 150 years, Chester was a wonderful source for information on historical events and family histories, and on rural life on a Maine island. Chester was able to provide names for people in antique photos at the Cliff Island Historical Society. Without his help much of this information would have been lost. He was the guardian angel who watched over everyone’s homes and his dear island. Chester always had a twinkle in his eye and a smile in his heart and was a dear friend to all. He is survived by his sister Louise Estabrook of Cliff Island and many nieces and nephews and cousins, and his sweet rascal cat Shadow. Thank you to Northern Light Home Health and Hospice ( nurse Joanie Roberts) for supporting Chester and his family during his final days. Chester was buried at the Pettengill cemetery on Cliff Island. A service will be held August 10th ,2025 at 10 am on Cliff Island, where he will be lovingly remembered

Chester E. Pettengill

February 6, 1936 - November 15, 2024

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