TOWN HILL – Roland Sans Salsbury Jr., building contractor, veteran, public servant, friend, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home in Town Hill on Aug. 19, 2016, at the age of 89. Roland was born Jan. 16, 1927, in Otis, to Erma (Jordan) and Roland S. Salsbury Sr.
Roland lived on the farm with his parents and nine siblings until high school. During his senior year of high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served during World War II in the Philippines and Japan. Following the war, he met Allison M. Smith of Town Hill. They eloped May 6, 1947, and left for the West Coast for a “honeymoon” that lasted 10 years. During their time in Washington state, Roland attended Olympic Junior College and Bremerton Business College. He and Allison operated “Salsbury’s Let’s Eat Café” in Bremerton until they returned to Maine with two young children in 1957. Roland worked for Fred Beal Co. in Ellsworth before starting his building business, Salsbury of Town Hill. He and his crew built many homes and businesses on and around Mount Desert Island and were caretakers for numerous seasonal homes.
Always interested in public affairs and policy, Roland entered the arena of “elected official” as a member and chair of the Bar Harbor Town Council in 1969. Following three terms serving the town, he was elected to four terms as state representative for Bar Harbor and surrounding communities. A conservative legislator, he treated all constituents with concern and fairness and brought the same integrity and work ethic to this job as he did to his business endeavors.
Winding down his construction business and political obligations in his 70s, Roland continued as project manager for refurbishing the Sea Coast Mission building in Bar Harbor and the construction of the Municipal Building in Northeast Harbor. He also became an avid fan of MDIHS sports, where he watched his grandchildren participate on the field, on the court or in the band. As his physical health began to fail, he was content to continue to follow the Red Sox with great anticipation and keep up with many televised sports and national politics. He also became a voracious reader, making it difficult for his family to keep him supplied with the latest biography or history book. His wit, sarcasm and signature cigar stayed with him until his final days at home where he was comforted by family, friends and the wonderful ladies from Hancock County Hospice and Home Care.
Roland is survived by his wife of 69 years, Allison (Smith) Salsbury; his sons, Roland S. Salsbury III of Town Hill and Robert T. Salsbury of Lamoine; his daughter and her husband, Kathleen and Gary Stanley of Lamoine; grandchildren, Rebecca Salsbury of London, England, and her mother, Vicki, of Lamoine, Tyler Stanley and his wife, Allie, of Gorham, Margaret Stanley and Emma Stanley of Portland, Brandy Brasted of Fort Meyers, Florida, Frances Salsbury of Town Hill, and great-granddaughters, Natalie Camilia of Florida, and Luzetta Stanley of Gorham, his brother and his wife, Richard and Virginia Salsbury of Ellsworth, sister-in-law Clara Salsbury, and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Roland, Sr. and Erma; brothers and sisters and spouses, Robert Salsbury, Kenneth and Arlene Salsbury, Marion and Horace Sargent, Eleanor and Donald Coffin, Lysle and Amelia Salsbury, Raymond Salsbury, Errold and Peggy Salsbury, Laurice and Kenneth Lorenz; and grandson Aaron James Salsbury.
Services will be held at Lamoine Baptist Church, 24 Lamoine Beach Road, Lamoine on Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Brooks Linde officiating.
Friends and family may donate in Roland’s name to Hancock County Home Care and Hospice at EMHS Foundation, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931.
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