Esther M. Dudley
SCARBOROUGH -- Esther May Dudley, 90, died on Aug. 17, 2010, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. She was born in Oakland, on May 24, 1920, the daughter of Edward H. and Edith (Bowman) Dudley. She spent her childhood in Oakland and graduated from Williams High School in 1937. She graduated from Gates Business College, Augusta, in 1940. She earned the rating of Certified Professional Secretary in 1973.
Esther began her secretarial career in 1941 as a junior clerk secretary at the State Employment Office. In 1952 she became administrative secretary in the Department of Institutional Services (later renamed the Maine Department of Mental Health and Corrections) and served as executive secretary to four commissioners. She founded an organization for secretaries who worked for the state and set up cooperative training among the members.
Esther retired in 1974, after 33 years, to care for her mother and operate a bookkeeping and secretarial service from her home, which she continued into her 80s. She was executive secretary of the Maine Psychiatric Association for 21 years. She was also a charter member of the Maine Association of Retirees and served as corporate secretary for many years. Esther was a member and past president of the Kennebec Valley Chapter of the National Secretaries Association (International).
Esther cared for her parents in their final years. She later cared for her brother, Edward, and served as power of attorney for an elderly cousin and oversaw his care. Esther spent hundreds of hours doing work for the community, baking beans for firemen's suppers, supporting local fund drives, and serving as secretary for many organizations. She was worthy grand matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Jefferson Chapter.
Esther was a single, independent woman who lived her life to the fullest and enjoyed everything with gusto (especially ice cream). She climbed Machu Picchu while in her 60s, traveled to France in her 70s, and visited England and Mexico in her 80s. To mark her 80th birthday in 2000, the Maine State Legislature passed a resolution
"Esther M. Dudley" honoring her for her many contributions to her community and state. More than 100 people attended a party in her honor.
Esther moved with her mother and father to Whitefield in 1954. In 2004, she left her home of 50 years and moved to The Pines retirement community in Old Orchard Beach to be closer to her niece, Susan Gold, who lovingly supervised her care to allow Esther to enjoy her later years. In 2007, Esther moved to Scarborough Terrace assisted living facility. For the past year she lived in New York with her niece, Jane Dudley-Ruel, and her family, who cared for her with loving kindness. During her last days, she stayed at Gosnell House. Even in death, Esther continued to contribute to society by donating her body to the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Morris J. Seligman
HALLOWELL -- Morris J. Seligman, M.D., 92, of Granite Hill Estates in Hallowell and formerly of Augusta, died Jan. 20, 2011, at the MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta.
Morris was born on April 26, 1918, in Concord, N.H., the son of I. Louis and Adele (Nagel) Seligman. He was raised in Concord, graduating from Concord High School in 1935. Upon graduation, Morris went on to pursue his lifelong goal of becoming a physician, graduating magna cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1939, and graduating from the New York University School of Medicine in 1942.
Upon his completion of medical school, Morris enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving with the 1st Infantry, 6th Division in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II. At the end of the war, Morris completed his medical residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, and then returned to Concord N.H., where he established a private practice in general medicine.
On May 8, 1949, Morris married Rhya Levine of New York City. With his wife assisting him as his office secretary, Morris ran a private practice in Concord from 1949 until 1955, and was known for his commitment to caring for all those in need. In 1955, Morris went to work for the Veterans Administration, completing his psychiatric residency at the Brocton, Mass. VA Hospital in 1958. In the spring of 1958, Morris moved to Augusta with his family and began his 28-year career as a psychiatrist at the USVA at Togus. During his career, he served for several years as chief of psychiatry at Togus, and also as president of the Maine Psychiatric Association.
Since his retirement from Togus in 1986, Morris has enjoyed reading James Michener and John Grimshaw novels, watching the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots on TV, and following current events on CNN.
Morris was predeceased by his wife, Rhya, on April 9, 2008.
He is survived by a daughter, Martha Seligman, and her companion, Richard E. Freeman Jr., of South China; and his cousins, Thelma Shik of Revere, Mass. and Helene Kaplan of Colorado.
Morris was a devoted husband, father, physician and friend, and will be sadly missed by all those whose lives he touched. His family wishes to express thanks and gratitude to the staff of the Martha Ballard Assisted Living facility at Granite Hill Estates, and to caregivers Nicoletta Smith, Terry Compagna and Judy Nichols for the wonderful care Morris received in his final years.