Barry Timson Obituary (2007)

HALLOWELL - Mr. Hallowell, Barry Sturtevant Timson, will live in spirit, forever. A dedicated public servant, a doctorate in geology, a baker of muffins, a performer of marriage ceremonies, a good friend to many. Materially, a man of modest means, but in spirit, a billionaire. Where to start when there is no beginning and end to Barry. Barry is the son of the late Barry and Viola A. Timson, brother of Margot T. Sullivan of Westwood, MA and uncle of Mark C. Sullivan of New Jersey. He graduated from Needham MA High School 1962 and Bowdoin College 1966. Barry also received a Masters Degree in Geology from U. of Massachusetts in Amherst and did doctoral work at the University of Texas in Austin. Barry returned to Maine to work for the Maine Geological Survey and eventually opened his own geology and environmental consulting business. Barry served on the Planning Board, the Water and Sewer District Board, and the Hallowell Water District. Barry was on the city council and had a distinction of being mayor for who knows how many years. Above all, Barry was a man of principles. A man who resigned as mayor when his principles were not upheld, only to win reelection several months later with a vote of confidence from Hallowell citizens that he had, indeed, held true to the principles they held. In addition to his active role in the City Council and as Mayor, Barry was a founding member of the Head Start program in Hallowell and the Hallowell Food Bank. Many a day Barry would travel to Lewiston to pick up food and products for the food bank. Barry was a consensus builder. He worked behind the scenes to get people to come together even when it seemed that they had no issues in common. During the ?87 flood, when people thought that Hallowell?s Water Street buildings should just be destroyed, Barry held steadfast, and stood thigh deep in water orchestrating operations like the Boston Pops. He was there, tirelessly, for all the time it took to get the City going again. Mr. Hallowell headed Christmas in Old Hallowell, Old Hallowell Days in July, and every other occasion that Hallowellians chose to celebrate. He was Santa Claus in December, performing Clausian tasks and being the auctioneer for the Christmas auction. He always got people to bid more than the item was worth. In 1991, Barry had an entry for the Old Hallowell Day parade. It was called ?a float? and consisted of a boat on wheels, manned by two teenagers with water pistols. When they passed the judge?s stand, Barry slowed down so the boaters could blast the judges not only with water pistols, but with buckets of water. This caused such an uproar that the judges disqualified the float and told Barry not to enter the next year. Barry threatened the parade officials with a law suit but in typical fashion, wrote that the suit would be dropped if they gave the float the grand marshall?s trophy. He ended his appeal by saying ?In the immortal words of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, ?We shall return?. He also had a P.S. that no judge should go to sleep at night without a loaded water pistol within easy reach. Barry was Hallowell?s citizen of the year in 1995 waving ceremoniously in his convertible just four years after having been banned for his parade float. This is indicative of how Barry operated. No one could refuse Barry. He even got people who did not live in Hallowell to help put up the Christmas lights. Speaking of Old Hallowell Days, Barry early on began a croquet tournament. This was no ordinary tournament. Barry talked his friends into practicing for several weeks. He had people dress up in Victorian dresses and he served cucumber sandwiches. Barry never missed a Hall-Dale field hockey or basketball game. He never missed a Friday night at Slates with his friends. He never missed anything. For twenty years, Barry made the morning muffins at Slates. He was known to say that Hallowell was his home, and Slates was his dining room. Sometimes known to eat all three meals at Slates in one day, Barry said Slates was his real office. Barry was the sole male member of Hallowell?s Sip ?n Suck Club which meets every afternoon on Central Street. In fact, on a particular March afternoon during a snow storm, Barry had the road crew shovel the sidewalks so the Club could meet. Someone once complained about the home business on Central Street and the lack of parking. Barry calmly explained that it was not a home business but rather, a social club to which he belonged. On another meeting at the Sip ?n Suck Club, Barry watched from the window as fire trucks and ambulances drove up the hill. At that time Barry was driving a precarious automobile that had to be parked up next to a telephone pole so it would stay standing. It seems that a state trooper passed by and thinking that there was an automobile accident asked the emergency crew to respond. Barry was a member of the Kennebec Land Trust and worked tirelessly on his dream of having an International Appalachian Trail extending into Canada. He conceived of the Gardiner, Hallowell, Augusta rail trail back in the1980s and was quite pleased when the first legs of the trail opened. Barry and a friend of his, decided to write scandalous letters to the editor of the KJ, trying to outdo each other on who wrote the most outrageous letter that evoked the most spirited responses. Barry was frugal, especially when it came to City dollars. He was known to refuse to give money to the Harbor Master for uniforms and a badge; he frequently questioned the School District on its budget. Barry was known far and wide. After the Boston Globe wrote that Hallowell was the funkiest town north of Boston, Barry was known as the Funkmeister. When Hustler Magazine pegged Hallowell, the bi-sexual capitol of America, Barry was heard to say, ?I hope my mother doesn?t hear this. She?ll make me resign as Mayor?. And, when a local conservative Christian organization crowned Hallowell as the Mecca of Gay Pride, Barry helped develop ?MECCA? bumper stickers. Barry was a founding member of the Fleshapoids, which can loosely be described a bunch of old guys cross-dressing and playing in a band. They made their debut at the Wharf in the early 80s and although they played throughout the years, they never quit their day jobs. Barry was a mentor. He understood politics and strategy. He cried out for the public to participate in government. Among others Barry took Phil Lindley under his wing and taught him all about local politics. He had a strategy for everything. Barry connected with everyone he met. He never forgot a face or a name. He respected all walks of life. Many a woman had a crush on Barry. He was also a hero among all Hallowellian dogs as he carried dog biscuits in his vehicle. In fact, the driver?s side door had scratches on it where the neighborhood dogs jumped up to receive their treat. In recent years, Barry spent time at the cottage he built with his sister Margot on Monhegan Island. Just last week, he said that his goal in life was to have the cottage on Monhegan and he had fulfilled that dream. A couple of years ago, Barry said he wanted a house warming party at the cottage. In true Barry style, he invited 150 people forgetting to mention to Dawn and Deb who were in charge of the food and cooking on the number of people he invited until the day before. 28 big bags of food and supplies and coolers were lugged from the end of the road to Barry?s place. What a glorious day that was for all. Barry was chairman of the Ecology Committee of Monhegan Associates Inc. a land trust organization. Over the years Barry helped with analyzing and explaining Monhegan?s water supply from the sole source aquifer. His maps of the geology of the island are in the Monhegan Museum. Contributions in Barry?s memory may be made to the Barry S. Timson Hall-Dale Scholarship for students entering a Maine College who plan to major in politics and government and who have exemplified through community work a desire to serve others. Checks made out to the Barry Timson Scholarship Fund may to sent c/o Dawn Gallagher, 27 Union Street. Hallowell Maine 04347. Also, MISCA (Monhegan Island Sustainable Community Association), Monhegan Island, Maine 04852 the recently developed organization to explore and develop affordable year round housing for island residents to sustain a viable and vibrant community. In typical Hallowellian style, there will be a celebration of Barry?s life on Sunday, April 22nd, at 1:00 p.m. at Maple Hill Bed and Breakfast in Hallowell. All are welcome to share their favorite Barry story. Please email [emailprotected] for more information. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, One Church Street, Augusta.