Dean Collier Bridges

RAYMOND — Dean Collier Bridges, 70, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018.

He was born Feb. 12, 1948, in Portland, to Richard and Victoria (Collier) Bridges. Dean attended Gorham schools and spent his early career as a sheet metal mechanic, but was self-employed as a metal fabricator for most of his working life.

Dean loved the outdoors. He enjoyed spending time at Jackman Camp with his family and also took frequent vacations to Hawaii. In earlier years, Dean enjoyed golfing at the Gorham Country Club and was also a certified scuba diver. He was known as a jokester and loved ones enjoyed his stories. Dean was a ham radio operator and even communicated with astronauts flying over the earth. He always continued to learn; he had a vast knowledge of history and taught himself to speak multiple foreign languages. Those close to Dean would especially remember his “Donald Duck Voice” as one of his many languages spoken. Dean was a member of the Border Riders sportsman club and was an active volunteer, participating in things such as the Magic of Christmas Chorus group and Riding to the Top therapeutic horse riding center.

Dean is survived by his loving wife, Beverly (Babkirk) of Raymond; two sons, Richard J. Bridges II of Jackman and Benjamin B. Bridges of Wilton; three sisters, Jo Anne (Bridges) Sayward of Gorham, Alaire (Bridges) Riddle of Windham, and Sarah Katherine Schiffer of Freeport; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Dean touched many lives and will be greatly missed by so many. Please do a good deed for someone every day in his memory. He is swimming like a manta ray off of Big Island of Hawaii. Aloha, A hui hou; ’til we meet again.

Services will be private for the family. To express condolences and to participate in Dean’s online tribute, please visit www.DolbyBlaisSegee.com

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.