Hugh Hastings II

FRYEBURG & LONGWOOD, FLA. — Hugh W. Hastings II, 90, of Fryeburg and Longwood, Fla., died on Dec. 26, 2015, with family at his side.

Hugh was born, the fourth of seven children to Hugh W. Hastings and Martha F. Hastings in Fryeburg, on Sept. 29, 1926. He graduated from Fryeburg Academy, attended University of Maine – Orono, graduated from Bowdoin College, and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

He was employed by the Fryeburg Water Company for over 65 years, serving as president for most of that time. He was a licensed land surveyor and managed woodlands for both his family and for Saunders Brothers in Westbrook, Maine.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Fryeburg, the Masons – Pythagorean Lodge #11 for 64 years, and the American Legion. He had also been a member of Kiwanis International.

Always an outgoing individual and known for the twinkle in his eye, Hugh loved a good party and family gatherings. He co-hosted the annual Hastings Family Lobster and Clam Picnic at the rustic family camp on Kezar Pond in Fryeburg, which brought together approximately 100 family members each year. He always looked forward to large gatherings of friends and family alike to celebrate his birthday in recent years. Sing-a-longs with piano accompaniment were his favorites.

He and his loving wife of 62 years, Norene (Rene), also loved to travel. Together with her brother, Walter Mattson and his wife Gerry, they visited many exotic places throughout the world. In recent years, Hugh and Rene spent the winters in Florida, but Hugh was always most comfortable in his native Fryeburg and the family home in which he lived for most of his life, sleeping in the same bedroom in which he had been born.

Hugh is survived by his wife, Norene M., son Tom (Lynn) of Maitland, Florida, daughter Ellen Zelman (Andy) of Altamonte Springs, Florida, son John (Lynne Smith) of Fryeburg, daughter Jane Rosenberg (David) of Lafayette, Colorado, grandson Steven Zelman and granddaughters, Katie Zelman, Melanie Rosenberg, and Casey Rosenberg. Hugh is also survived by two sisters, Jane Folsom (John) and Mary Dumas (Bruce Folsom) of Alfred; and a brother, Peter (Stefi) of Fryeburg; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Services were held at the Altamonte Chapel, 825 East Altamonte Drive (State Road 436), Altamonte Springs, FL 32701, at 4 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. A celebration of his life and burial service will be held in Fryeburg in the early summer. In Hugh’s memory, donations may be made to the First Congregational Church of Fryeburg, 655 Main Street, Fryeburg, ME 04037.