Obituary of Allan Howard Teel

Allan Howard Teel, 87, died peacefully April 12 at LincolnHealth - Miles campus in Damariscotta of complications from a recent stroke. Born to Dorothy B. (Sturges) and C. Sumner Teel in Medford, Mass. on Feb. 18, 1927, Al grew up in Reading, Mass, attended public schools, graduating from Reading High School with the Class of 1944. He then attended Governor Dummer Academy for a postgraduate year continuing to excel in hockey, baseball, and football. After a brief stint with the U.S. Navy at the Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois at the very end of WWII, Al entered Dartmouth College and graduated with the Class of 1950. That year, he married Marilyn L. Walsh of Winchester, Mass., went to work with his father to build the C. Sumner Teel Insurance Agency, initially on Milk Street in Boston, Mass., and subsequently in Reading, Mass., where he and Marilyn started their family. In Reading, Mass., where Al worked as an independent insurance agent for 50 years, his many friendships centered around the local "Y" and playing golf and tennis. He enjoyed weekend camping trips and exploring the back roads of New England by car. Boston sports teams and the Boston Globe were a daily staple. Thirty years ago, Al returned to his childhood summer home of Boothbay, and then retired to midcoast Maine, spending the last 15 years in Alna. He loved working on projects around the house and in his woodshop, built an impressive library of how-to and travel books, and enjoyed nothing more than finding an out-of-the-way roadside diner or local bookstore. His family nickname was Sonny, which was well deserved. His gentle disposition, easy laugh, and enjoyment of life's simple pleasures made him easy to be around, even as his memory began to fade, and his body became frail. He was a supportive father, and loyal friend. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald Teel of Reading, Mass. Al Teel was the proud father of six children, Allan S. "Chip" Teel, MD and wife Carol of Nobleboro, Steven S. Teel of South Royalton, Vt., Jeffrey J. Teel of Boothbay Harbor, Mary Lou Teel of New York, N.Y. and Boothbay, Nancy E. Teel of Farmington, and Christopher D. Teel and wife Kellie of Brunswick. He loved sharing in their family activities and especially enjoyed watching and hearing about the accomplishments of his grandchildren, Jon Teel and wife Peke and Ben Teel and partner Angela, Sarah, Dana, and Chris Teel, Jessi Lorenzo and partner Lily, Jenny and Nick Freundlich, Sean, Brogan, Paige, and Mikaelyn and Corban Teel; great-grandsons, Robert Hutch Warren, and Warren Lorenzo; sisters, Barbara Dacey of Newburyport, Mass., and Mary Warren Cloutier of Epping, N.H.; and sister-in-law, Barbara Teel of Reading, Mass. He so enjoyed all their extended families. There will be a small gathering of family and friends to remember Al 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sat., April 19 at the home of his daughter Mary Lou, at 264 Barter's Island Rd., Boothbay. All are welcome. Condolences may be conveyed to the family by emailing his son Jeff jjteel@gmail.com or posting on the Inns at Greenleaf Lane Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Boothbay Region YMCA or the Boothbay Historical Society.