George M. Lord

FALMOUTH -- George Macomber Lord, 90, died peacefully on August 6, 2011 at Falmouth By The Sea. Son of Fred and Madeleine (Lord) Lord, he was born in Boston, Mass. and raised in Augusta. He attended Cony High School before graduating from Governor Dummer Academy in 1939. He spent many happy summers in Boothbay Harbor and on Lake Cobbosseecontee, where he met his future wife. George graduated from Bowdoin College in 1943, then entered the Navy as a Lieutenant JG. He would share stories of his adventures while serving on the USS Enterprise in the South Pacific during WW 2.

George married the late Maribel Small of New Rochelle, N.Y. in 1945 and they made their home in Portland. He worked for a short while as a news reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He then worked in commercial real estate where he met Halsey Davis of the George C Shaw Co, while endeavoring to interest Shaw's in expanding to Mill Creek in Cape Elizabeth, across the 'Million Dollar Bridge'. Hired by Mr. Davis to develop suburban sites for Shaw's, George worked for the grocer for some three decades, serving as President of the company from 1968 to his retirement in 1983. Soon after, Mr. Davis and his wife established a charitable foundation and asked George to assist setting up and operating the Davis Family Foundation. The objective of the foundation was to benefit people and non-profits in the Shaw's customer base. George volunteered his time at the foundation until 2000, and the foundation continues today making grants to non-profits in the fields of education, medical, and culture/arts.

Make, as he was known to his friends, had strong ties to the community. He was an ardent supporter of the Portland Museum of Art, and was involved in its expansion. He served as a trustee, a member of the Board of Fellows and was a supporter of the McLellan House. He served many years as a Trustee of the Maine Medical Center and also served on the boards of North Yarmouth Academy, the Greater Portland Building Fund, the Area Development Council and the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. He was always supportive of the United Way and served as chairman of the campaign in 1970. Make was a member of the Portland Country Club, the Portland Yacht Club, and the Cumberland Club.

Make and Maribel loved sailing and many family vacations were spent cruising the Maine coast. He spent his life in Maine and was always a supporter of its people and conserver of its resources. All will remember his kindness, his dry wit and his interest in others.

He is survived by two daughters, Julia Soule and Cynthia Lord, two sons, Robert and John Lord; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Lindquist Funeral Home in Yarmouth.

Lindquist Funeral Home

Funeral Home & Cremation Service

846-4011