Daniel C. Abbott, formerly of Bridgton, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2021, at MidCoast Senior Health Center in Brunswick, where he had resided at The Garden for two years.  

Dan was born in Newton, Mass., in 1932. A lifelong musician, he started playing the violin at age seven. As a boy, he was active in Scouting and represented the New England Council in a trip to Washington, D.C., where they met the president. One of Dan’s favorite mementos was a pen stamped “stolen from Harry S. Truman.” He revived his interest in Scouting when his oldest son, Charles, now of New Bedford, N.H., became interested. 

Dan graduated from Brown University as a music major. He conducted the Men’s Glee Club, which traveled extensively in New England giving concerts. His conducting skills were honed under Maestro Pierre Monteux at the Hancock School in Maine. On graduation from Brown University, Dan joined the music department at Tufts University, Medford, Mass., where he taught music for decades and conducted the Tufts University Orchestra. He also conducted The Reading Symphony Orchestra for many years until his retirement as Emeritus Professor from Tufts in 1996.  

He and his wife, Sharon Smith Abbott, retired to Dan’s roots in Bridgton. As a teenager, Dan had worked at his family’s resort, Tarry A While. His aunt Ethel said he learned to lean on a broom expertly. As a retiree to Bridgton, Dan served for 15 years with Meals on Wheels, taught Music Appreciation in the Bridgton Senior College and was an active member of The Bridgton Historical Society, serving as president in the late 90s.

His participation in the Lexington Quartet continued from early teaching days at Tufts through retirement years. The group recently disbanded recently after playing string quartets together for 50 years.

In addition to music, Dan’s was passionate about fly-fishing. He and his wife spent many happy days together fishing, including a trip to England, where they fished the Wye River. Dan spent his 70th birthday in Labrador catching huge trout. 

Dan leaves sons, Charles and Benjamin Abbott, nine grandchildren, and his wife of 36 years, Sharon, now of Brunswick.