Stefan Matthew Pakulski Obituary (1958 - 2016)

WAYNE ~ Stefan Matthew Pakulski passed away unexpectedly March 5th, 2016 as he was planning his next big adventure with friends and family. Stefan was born on December 17th, 1958 in Lewiston Maine to Ruth Elizabeth Ault and John Robert Pakulski. He was a native of Wayne but was at home in many places across the world and throughout his life. Stefan was blessed with a childhood of fun and adventure with his many cousins, siblings, and friends: fishing, hunting, sailing, swimming, jumping into the millstream, and seeing how fast he could ride his bicycle down Morrison Heights. After grade school in Wayne and Winthrop, he attended Gould Academy where he expanded his friendships and horizons. Stefan went on to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he studied music. The highlight of his college career was being part of a men’s acapella group, the Kokosingers, where he developed friendships that continue today. After college, his next adventure was the Peace Corps where he spent 2 years in Nasoqo, a remote mountain village in Fiji. This experience changed the course of his life, making him an enthusiastic promoter of the Peace Corps and international development. From Fiji, he moved to California where he studied organic farming in Santa Cruz and lived and worked in San Francisco. Stefan sang with the San Francisco symphony during his time there. Wanting to turn his focus back to international work, he drove cross-country to enroll in the International Development program at American University in Washington, D.C. This is where he started his career in international development and met his future wife, Lynette Johnson, over apples and a jar of peanut butter. Over the course of his international career, Stefan worked and traveled to many countries in the Middle East, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and countries throughout Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. These were the most valuable years of his career, helping farmers, small businesses and cooperatives and promoting policies that encourage small business development. Stefan and Lynette settled in Jakarta, Indonesia where they met many lifelong friends and started a family when their amazing son Kai came into the world in 1996. Together they enjoyed many adventures and traveled to many parts of the region, including Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Stefan and his family moved back to Maine in 1998 following a coup and the collapse of the Suharto regime in Indonesia. Stefan was hired at the Island Institute as the community development director where he traveled and worked with the residents of Maine’s island communities; work that he loved. Stefan enjoyed singing with the Downeast Singers and Gordon Bok’s January Men during this time. While living in Rockland, Stefan and Lynette had their second wonderful child, Janika. Between jobs, Stefan reveled in being a stay at home dad, spending lots of time playing and going on many adventures with Jani and Kai. Stefan was hired to be the town manager of Readfield, where he faced many challenges but worked with wonderful colleagues and met many supportive friends. This opportunity allowed him to fulfill his dream of moving back to his childhood home in Wayne. One reason Stefan moved back to Maine from overseas was to be involved with his community; and he did that with a passion. He was involved in many groups, dedicating his time to the church choir, school board, and many community organizations and school activities. He was a great resource to many people and was always willing to help. He could never say no to anyone; not out of duty or a sense of guilt, but because he wanted to be a part of everything. Stefan’s greatest joy was participating in the lives of his children. From coaching them in soccer and baseball; helping on the ski slopes; volunteering in the classroom, attending every school concert, play, and sporting event; he was always there and always fully engaged. He not only focused on his own kids, but was invested in every kid: praising their good work, offering gentle advice, giving them a pat on the back, and making them feel special. He was the ultimate cheerleader. He was forever the playful child and game for anything. At the drop of a hat he would go off skiing with the kids and cousins, play catch or soccer in the back yard, go out for a sail or boat ride, play music with anyone who was willing, and stop to chat with whoever he met along the way. He was a good listener, a faithful friend and loyal companion. Stefan is predeceased by his father, John Pakulski. He is survived by his mother, Ruth Ault; his wife and partner of 28 years, Lynette; children, Kai and Janika; his siblings Lisa, Jan Marek and Tom; many nieces and nephews he loved dearly; cousins who were like his brothers and sisters; loving aunts and uncles; hosts of friends and colleagues throughout the world; and dear friends the Clarcq-Liscord family—Tom, Lisa, Noah, Colin and Hannah—who were at his side until the very end. The family is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support. Always wanting to be part of the action, Stefan is surely disappointed to be missing out on all the food, cards and visits. Memorial gifts can be made to the Pakulski College Fund, Kennebec Savings Bank, Attn. Michelle Richardson, 84 Main St., Winthrop, ME 04364. A memorial service will take place in Stefan’s favorite place in the world on Morrison Heights overlooking Lake Androscoggin on June 4th at 2:00 p.m.. All are encouraged to attend to help celebrate Stefan’s amazing life, cut short too soon. Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop. Memories, condolences, photos, and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com