Obituary of James H. Dodd

James H. Dodd, 80, of Brunswick passed away March 16, 2011 at Amenity Manor in Topsham. He was born March 8, 1931 in North Carolina to Mary Stewart and James Dodd, but he came to consider Maine his home state. Although he traveled all over the world from Europe and the Middle East to China and Tahiti and Tonga, he especially loved sailing on Casco Bay and competing in races on JaZazzi, his J-24 sailboat. After serving in the U.S. Army in Korea, Jim attended Gardner Webb, Carson Newman, and then graduated from the University of Tennessee. He earned an M.A. in English from California State University Los Angeles. He taught English for 17 years at secondary schools in California and Maine and at the University of Maine at Machias. He was a member and past president of the New England Association of Teachers of English. In Brunswick, he began a second career in real estate investment and property management, but he continued to teach—sailing courses and ballroom dancing. A Paul Harris fellow, Jim was a past-president and co-founder of the Brunswick Coastal Rotary Club and a member of the Brunswick Rotary Club. He was also active in the Bath-Brunswick Rental Association, Chamber of Commerce, and other civic groups. He volunteered as a swim instructor for elementary students from Harpswell at the Bowdoin Pool. After becoming a scholar of the Civil War, he visited several sites around the U.S. and used his knowledge to guide visitors through the Joshua Chamberlain House. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Anne Wescott Dodd; two daughters, Vickie Gehm and her husband Larry of Melbourne, Florida, and Suzan Heros of North Andover, Massachusetts; six grandchildren, Kristen Gehm Keith and husband Blake, Cori Gehm Henderson and husband Michael; and Casey Gehm of Melbourne, Florida; Eric Heros, Marcus Heros, and Sara Heros of North Andover, Massachusetts; two great-grandchildren, Ava Keith and Hunter Henderson; and a sister, Anita Karauski of Los Angeles, California and her children, John and Angie. He was predeceased by a brother Charles Dodd of Bloomington, California. The family will have a memorial service at a later date. Contributions can be made in his name to the Pejepscot Historical Society for support of the Joshua Chamberlain House. Family members especially thank the staff at Amenity Manor for the loving care and support they gave Jim and the family over the last year. On-line condolences may be offered at www.directcremationofmaine.com.