Lorne Richard Goodell

We are saddened to announce the passing of Lorne Richard Goodell on August 20, 2025, at the age of 89, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Lorne’s list of life accomplishments is both lengthy and impressive, but most importantly, he was a devoted husband to his wife, Rose Ann Russo, a caring father to three children, and a beloved history teacher at South Portland High School from 1968 to 1993. He was proudly the first recipient of the school’s Teacher of the Year Award, chosen by direct vote of the student body in 1986.

Born on May 5, 1936, in St. Stephens, Canada, Lorne grew up in Portland, Maine. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and married the love of his life, Rose, on April 25, 1959. He earned his master’s degree in history from Cornell University in 1965. Lorne’s passion for history, world events, and government was truly inspirational.

Lorne was a world traveler. Highlights included three years in Germany while serving in the military, and post-wedding trips to both Greece and Egypt with Rose. He spent a summer in India after being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, where he had the honor of meeting Indira Gandhi.

An avid reader, Lorne spent countless hours clipping important articles from several national newspapers. He loved animals and, in the 1970s, fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning his own horse. Beyond Roman and American history, he enjoyed exercise, walking in the wooded acres he once owned in Pownal, and in Evergreen Cemetery, where he once found a lost kitten and brought it home to be his own. He also spent many hours working on his extensive world coin collection. Lorne had a sweet tooth and often made his own chocolate fudge. He was a devoted son to his late mother, Helen Grant, and father, Donald Goodell.

Lorne was predeceased by his wife, Rose, in 2017. He is survived by his three children: Lorna R. Goodell and her husband Jim Lucas of Westbrook; Kevin Goodell of Portland; and Morbideus Goodell and his wife Dee Goodell of Wells. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Eryk Silver, Raven Goodell, Aidan Lucas, and Griffin Lucas.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough for their compassionate care during the last ten years of Lorne’s life.

Lorne will be interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland during an intimate ceremony in the fall of 2025.