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- Portland Press Herald (ME)
April 4, 2015
SCARBOROUGH - Dana Sidelinger was born January 14, 1914 in Portland Maine, the son of Harriet Eliza Peabbles of Cape Elizabeth and Fred Dana Sidelinger of Portland.
He grew up in the Portland area and spent summers working on his Grandfather Peabbles' ocean-side vegetable farm in Cape Elizabeth, developing a life-long love for gardening and the outdoors. He attended Kent's Hill School (then Maine Wesleyan Seminary) graduating with the Class of 1932, and the University of Maine where he was an accomplished athlete, lettering in football and track. He courted his sweetheart in a Model T Ford and wed Eleanor Stover Black of Portland to whom he was married for nearly 60 years.
In 1936, he began a long and fruitful career with AT&T: his first job was peddling the astounding new technology – the telephone – door to door. He continued with "Ma Bell" until retirement in various capacities including fieldwork (climbing poles), "plant" (technical services), security and administration. He served as Commercial Manager in various locations including Calais, Maine, and Framingham, Cambridge, Waltham and Wakefield in Massachusetts. As his last assignment, he was able to return to his beloved Maine and complete his career as Commercial Manager of the Portland office, retiring in the mid-1970's. During World War II, Dana served as a Fireman, First Class with the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1946.
In retirement, Dana fulfilled a dream of moving to his farm in Parsonsfield, Maine, long a summer home, which he and Eleanor lovingly renovated over the next several years. He did much of the labor himself and took pleasure in woodworking, gardening, hunting and the peace of the deep country life.
He cared for his wife Eleanor at the farm for many years as she succumbed to Alzheimer's and later became a beloved daily visitor at the Mountain View Nursing Home in Ossipee, NH where she lived until her passing in 1995. At the age of 82,
Dana and his friend and new companion Eleanor Watson took on the challenge of restoring the historic Philpot House in Limerick, spending several years putting his wood-working and gardening and her painting and decorating skills to use as they brought this lovely old home back to life. Dana was always involved in his local communities as a member of various service clubs including Kiwanis and Rotary. In retirement, he was active in the Masons, American Legion and Limerick Historical Society.
He was gifted with a beautiful tenor singing voice and in the era of live radio performed on broadcast stations in Bangor and Portland. Throughout his life, he widely performed as a soloist at weddings and in choirs – most recently singing in the choir of the Limerick Congregational Church. He always retained his love of sports, playing softball and bowling and continuing his beloved golfing well into his 90's. He attributed his longevity to daily walks, which he faithfully maintained into his 101st year. He was also a happy founding member of the "Romeo's" (Retired Old Men Eating Out) which to his family seemed to comprise any group of his senior friends gathered for coffee or a meal. He particularly looked forward to his morning coffee with the gathering at the Dough Boy in Limerick. Dana remained active and independent through his 99th year, and eventually became the holder of the Boston Post gold cane as the oldest resident of Limerick.
After a brief illness, Dana passed peacefully surrounded by family at Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living on Saturday, March 28.
He will be sorely missed by his three daughters, Ann Heath, Diane Frost and Donna Riser (George); five grandchildren, Fosco Picchi (Mary), Susan Frost, Jennifer MacLeod (Hugh), John Frost (Michele) and Vanessa Liberatore (John); and three great-grandchildren, Tyler Liberatore, David Frost and Tasha Frost, as well as by Eleanor Watson and her daughter Ellie (John).
Dana's was a life well-lived and spent in dedication to his family and friends, and he always did his best to leave whatever he touched better than he found it. He was a kind and giving man who will be lovingly remembered by the many he helped throughout his life. Well done thou good and faithful servant.
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1914 - 2015 (101 years)
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