Obituary of Edward Forrest Saxby

Edward Forrest Saxby, Jr., of Cape Elizabeth, died peacefully at home on May 6, 2017 after a year and a half of living with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Born on May 4, 1956 in Hartford, Connecticut, to Theresa Rose (Dillon) Saxby and Edward F. Saxby, Sr., Ed grew up at Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut, where his father was a teacher and his mother had been secretary to the headmaster. The family spent summers in Harrison, ME at the Saxby family homestead, Misty Moon Manor, where they ran a summer cottage rental business. One of Ed’s first jobs was running the boat rental at the marina there. After graduating from Avon, Ed studied for a year at Bates College. He then took six months off to hike the Appalachian Trail with two friends from Georgia to Maine, an experience that deepened his lifelong love of nature and passion for the preservation of public lands and resources. Ed completed his B.A. at University of Maine Orono, then his J.D. at University of Maine School of Law. He joined the US Navy Judge Advocate Corps, where he met his beloved wife of thirty years, Jill. He served as the sole JAG officer at the joint US-Canadian station in Argentia, Newfoundland, where their only child, Shannon, was born. Returning to Maine in 1988, he specialized in “elder law” for the final three years of his career, until illness forced his retirement in October 2016, Ed and Jill practiced together in their own small firm in South Portland. Ed took deep satisfaction in helping hundreds of families in southern Maine and in protecting and honoring the wishes of seniors. Ed was most proud of what he called “the most important work I ever did” --- taking several years off to help care for his oldest granddaughter during her preschool years. He loved teaching her to read, spending time with her outdoors and enjoying the days of what he called “Eilee time.” He was so proud of his daughter, Shannon, for using those years to earn her B.A. and M.S.W. and begin her own career in social work. Ed loved all things Maine. He and Jill cherished countless hikes, bike rides, canoe and camping trips with family and friends to Baxter State Park, Acadia and throughout Maine. He became a certified Wilderness First Aid Responder and loved trail-building and supporting public spaces. He was widely-read and deeply passionate about climate change and eco-justice. After supporting Jill through seminary, Ed was a constantly supportive minister’s spouse who plunged joyfully into the life of several area churches, helping with youth groups, attending church camps and participating in many social justice, equal rights, and environmental campaigns. He spent part of the last weeks of his life using his own story to advocate with Maine’s Congressional delegation for health care coverage for all. Guided always by a deep sense of fairness, Ed was down-to-earth, had a great sense of humor and was known to all for his thoughtfulness, generosity and kindness. Ed is survived by his wife of more than thirty years, The Rev. Jill Job Saxby; beloved daughter, Shannon Saxby and granddaughters, Eilee and Avery; sisters, Patricia Saxby Morang (and spouse John) of Gorham; Lynn Saxby Webster (and spouse Maynard) of New Sharon and Janice Methot; beloved nephew, Forrest Bell, of Gorham and niece, Gwen Bell (spouse, Alex) of Ojai, CA; beloved niece-in-law, Rachel Bell of Gorham; and beloved mother-in-law and friend, Darlene Willman, of New Bern, NC. He is predeceased by his parents and sister Betsy, who died in childhood. He is also survived by numerous extended family members and dear friends, dozens of whom gathered at his home on the Saturday before his death to mark his upcoming 61st birthday and to celebrate his life and legacy of love. He was a good man, who served all those around him long and well, in every way he could, for as long as he could, and always with joy. The family deeply appreciates the extraordinary care and friendship they received at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and from The Rev. Mia Dyson, a dear long-time friend and hospice chaplain at Beacon Hospice. A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced at First Congregational Church, UCC, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed’s honor to any of the following would be deeply appreciated by his loved ones: Appalachian Mountain Club Maine Chapter (www.amcmaine.org) Maine Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org/Maine) The Trust for Public Land (Maine) (www.tpl.org) The Crisis Ministries program of First Congregational Church, UCC, South Portland (www.fccucc.org)