William Bain

William Murray Bain
Orono




William Murray Bain was born on December 28, 1928 in Indianapolis, Indiana, a child of the Great Depression which profoundly influenced his life thereafter; but into a home rich in love and hard work. His parents, Janet Johnstone and Robert Guthrie Bain, had the courage to leave their beloved Scotland in the 1920s, come to the United States, survive the Depression and raise their family in their adopted country. In so doing, they saw that their children had all of the advantages of being born and brought up in America, giving to their children, Agnes Anne, John Johnstone and William Murray, a lot of love, a rich work ethic, strength of character, devotion and service to others; a truly rich legacy. Their entire lives were devoted to their children.
Murray’s early life was deeply molded by his Scottish ancestry; Meridian Heights Presbyterian Church; the teachers in Indianapolis Public School System and Indiana University, particularly L. S. McClung and Walter Konetzka; the Boy Scouts of America; the U.S. Navy; and numerous charitable organizations which gave him many enriching opportunities to serve the less fortunate among us, particularly through the United Way and Treats Falls House, and lately as a neonatal baby “Cuddler” at EMMC.
His educational career was briefly interrupted by service in the U. S. Navy where he saw duty in Korea, other parts of the Far East and in the Arctic. His service in ship’s salvage, deep sea diving, and ship handling made their mark on him and became a pleasant part of his dreams for the rest of his life. One of the major rewards for this service was the G.I. Bill, among the greatest social experiments the United States has ever engaged in, that allowed him to earn the Ph.D.
Those educational accomplishments led him to Orono, Maine and the University of Maine. There he met and married Louise Luebbers who proceeded to fulfill his life’s dreams by giving him such a wonderful and rich married life. Lou added new dimensions to his already interesting life; gave them two wonderful children, Lisa Anne and her son Cooper Bain Atkins, and David Bruce with his wife Lisa Joan Zizzi and their daughters Megan McKenzie and Sarah Rose. How they all further enriched his life. Also, she provided the calming influence so strongly needed to keep him on an even keel, by just being Lou and by being a lifelong traveling companion. We will all remember those marvelous camping escapades before GPS! As now, we were never lost, just “temporarily displaced“; never asking anyone for directions.
His teaching career in the then Department of Bacteriology, along with Dr. Charles Buck and Dr. Darrell Pratt, afforded him the opportunity to work with thousands of students, to participate in faculty governance, and to serve the academic and local communities during his 32 years at the University of Maine and for over 50 years in the town of Orono..
There are so many things for which to be thankful: to grow up in Indianapolis, IN and still be able to run in the woods and explore a swamp; to have the kind of parents who trusted you to stay out of most mischief and not to tell when you strayed. Who allowed us to grow independently; to read books in the library and under the bed covers; to not have many clothes, one set on and the other set “in“; to attend great public schools and public institutions of higher education at extremely affordable tuition; to discover the wonderful worlds of music and art, particularly art glass; to discover the beauty and powers of the seas and the raptures of the deep; to enjoy the excitement of having such a richly fulfilling means of employment and to receive so much from it; to live and raise a family among so many caring people in such a caring community as Orono, Maine; to the great pleasure of landscaping your property; to enjoy with your family the National Parks and the National Forest System of the United States; to be gainfully retired and to have the means to go RVing and to explore the United States, art galleries and the studios of art glass creators; to the Newman Center and its parishioners who gave me spiritual support and a lot of fun; and to the many friends who have meant so much to me and have so enriched my life. I love you all.
Life has been rich, but none so much as to be married to Lou and to have two such wonderful children, Dave and Lisa and three wonderful grandchildren, Megan, Sarah and Cooper. In summary, life has been full: to be born to Robert and Janet(Jenny) Bain, to grow up with sister Agnes and brother John, to attend beautiful Indiana University(BA,51; MA,53; PhD, 59). to serve in the US Navy(1952-1956) as the Executive Officer and Deep Sea Diving Officer on the salvage ship US Safeguard ARS 25; to teach at the University of Maine and live in the town of Orono where he met and married Lou Luebbers who gave them two wonderful children Lisa and David and much love and travel time together!
The family wishes to thank Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, especially his nurse Melissa, Johneen and Eloise for their love and devotion. Gratitude to Loving Touch, Edith and Wendy for their gentleness, care and sunshine.
A Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 am Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel, 83 College Ave., Orono, followed by the Rite of Committal at Riverside Cemetery, Orono. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at Holy Family Parish, 429 Main St., Old Town following the mass and burial.
Donations are welcomed for Northern Light Home Care and Hospice-Penobscot (885 Union Street Suite 220, Bangor Maine 04401) or Good Shepard Food Bank (PO Box 1807, Auburn, ME 04211-1807).
Condolences to the family may be expressed at Memorial-Alternatives.com