Joel Carlson Vincent

Joel C. Vincent, 79, a dedicated family man and esteemed criminal defense attorney, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 8, 2025. Born in Portland, Joel spent his early years on Peaks Island before moving to his grandparents' boarding house next to Portland City Hall. He served in the United States Naval Reserve between his junior and senior years of high school, graduated from Portland High School in 1964 where he played football, and married his high school sweetheart Jane shortly after, a partnership that lasted 61 years.

The couple began their married life in a Munjoy Hill apartment in Portland, where Joel worked at a printing company. During his half-hour lunch break, he would run up the hill to watch Jeopardy with Jane; she would then share the Final Jeopardy answer with him when he returned home after work. Joel entered retail management at Deering Ice Cream in South Portland and later advanced to manager and district manager for Wellwood, prompting a family move from Portland to Massachusetts, to oversee the Lowell store. While working full time, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Lowell in 1984.

On a drive back from visiting Maine, Joel and Jane discussed how much they missed it, leading Joel to observe that "you can just change your life." They relocated back to Portland, where Joel applied and was accepted to the University of Maine School of Law, earning his law degree in 1987. After being admitted to the Maine Bar that year he leveraged his retail and life experience to establish a successful private practice as a criminal defense attorney.

A 1993 newspaper article titled "Lawyer defends poor with zeal" profiled him as a zealous advocate for indigent clients, noting his tireless courtroom preparation. As his career progressed, he took pride in mentoring young attorneys. Because of the way he practiced law, he was beloved by prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, and judges alike. Joel was a past president of the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, a past member of the Maine Criminal Law Advisory Commission, and a member of the Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel for the District of Maine.

Joel will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and coworkers. Whether building his dream home with Jane or creating stone walls, paths, and perennial gardens, he never saw limits to what he could achieve. In honor of his well-lived life, show kindness to one another and, if inspired, plant something in his memory that will remind you of Joel.

Joel was predeceased by his parents George and Bernadette Vincent, his sister Carli Vincent, and his brother George Vincent. Joel is survived by his wife Jane Vincent; his son Jeffrey Vincent and partner Patricia Wilson; his son John Vincent and wife Ann; four grandchildren Josephine, Julian, Jenavieve, and Jocelyn Vincent, and their mother Roxanne Larochelle-Vincent.