Paul A. Wescott, 81

Paul A. Wescott

Paul A. Wescott

SCARBOROUGH — Paul A. Wescott, of South Portland, died on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

He was born on Aug. 22, 1931, in Bangor, the son and only child of Frederick A. and Pearl Otto Wescott.

Paul attended schools in Bar Harbor, South Berwick and Bucks-port, graduating from Bucksport High School in 1949. He graduated cum laude in the class of 1953 at Colby College, where he was a member of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity and a cheerleader. He participated in college theater and was on the staff of the Colby Echo. He met Eloise Larned, his first wife and mother of their children, at Colby, where they married in 1955.

In 1979, Paul married Margaret "Peggy" Thomas Ring. They lived in Brunswick until 1987, when they moved to South Portland. They enjoyed and supported each other across and through all the hills and valleys for 34 years. They traveled often to the U.K., Bermuda and the Florida Keys, and also to faraway destinations, including Tibet, Thailand, Australia, China, Japan, Taiwan and Brazil. Peggy and Paul were avid readers and Red Sox fans, and they competed weekly with separate copies of the New York Times crossword puzzle, which they attacked with pens (pencils are for lesser breeds).

Paul was a Root Tilden Scholar and an editor of the Law Review at New York University School of Law. After graduating in 1956, he began the practice of law at Mudge Stern Baldwin & Todd in New York, later known as Mudge Rose Alexander & Mitchell. He then joined the practice of Reed Smith in Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1960, Paul responded to the call of his beloved Maine and joined Drummond & Drummond in Portland. He left that firm in 1965 to form Drummond Wescott & Woodsum, now Drummond Woodsum.

In 1977, Paul started his second career as president and CEO of Howell Laboratories Inc. in Bridgton until retiring at the age of 80 in 2011. Under his leadership, Howell became a leader in its niche markets of shipboard fluid processing machinery, primarily for the U.S. Navy. Through its Shively Labs division, it developed into the leading U.S. manufacturer of FM broadcast antennas and related equipment. Paul was especially proud of enabling Howell to become an employee-owned company and ensuring that it would remain a successful technical products manufacturer in Maine, as well as an employer in western Cumberland County.

Paul was active in his communities, serving Cape Elizabeth on its school and planning boards. He later served the Episcopal Diocese of Maine as a member of the Committee on Holy Orders and a delegate to many diocesan conventions. He served on the vestry in his local parishes and as senior warden at St. Paul’s in Brunswick. He was chair of the finance and investment committees at the Cathedral of St. Luke in Portland. He was a trustee of the University of New England for almost 30 years, proudly participating in its growth as the longtime chair of its facilities committee. In 2006, Paul was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at UNE’s commencement. More recently, Paul served on the Board of the Maine Historical Society as chair of the finance and investment committee and a member of the executive committee.

Paul is survived by Peggy, his son Paul A. Jr. and wife Margery L. of Berkeley, Calif.; his son Capt. Thomas L. of Forest Hill, Md.; his daughter Ruth W. Montero and husband Peter C. of Lincoln, Mass.; his son John F. of Santa Rosa, Calif.; and his stepchildren Betsy Ring of Charlottesville, Va.; Connie Gregg and husband Jim of Lexington, Mass.; Molly Carpenter and husband David of Brunswick; and John Ring and wife Yu Feng of Taipei, Taiwan. He is survived by 14 grandchildren: Tamara and Trevor Wescott, Brad and Katie Wescott, Nick and Claire Montero, Nina and Aidan McKee, Emily and Chandler Gregg, Julia and Anna Carpenter, and Hannah and Willy Ring.

He was predeceased by an infant granddaughter, Elsie Thomas Carpenter, in May 1995.

Relatives and friends were invited to call at the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, Saturday, Aug. 17. A Burial Office was celebrated Sunday, Aug. 18 from the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 143 State St., Portland. Following the service, all were invited to a reception at the Cumberland Club, 116 High St., Portland. Burial was private at Riverside Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth. Memorial contributions in Paul’s memory may be made to the Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101.