Ellsworth
Jeffrey Edward Raymond, 74, died on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in the company of his loving family. Jeff’s resistance to lung cancer was stoic and courageous — uniquely inspiring to family and friends. He lived a long, joyful and cherished life.
Jeff grew up, lived and worked much of his life in Ellsworth. He graduated from Ellsworth High School, where he participated in theater and sports, then went on to University of Maine in Orono to pursue his BS in Theater Arts, where he was the most decorated member in UMO Maine Masque history when he graduated. Before graduating he took a year off to work at the Charles Playhouse in Boston and at Lakewood, the Maine State Theater in Skowhegan.
He has been fondly called “Jeff of All Trades” — a testimony to his varied careers and abundance of skills and talents. In addition to his early theater career, Jeff assisted his brother Joel in his early adventures as a concert producer. He worked at MA Clark Florist, his family’s business, and managed a branch of the same in Orono. He was the first employee of Homestead Project, a residential treatment facility for adolescents in Ellsworth Falls where he continued to work through the life of the organization wearing many hats. He then transitioned to KidsPeace New England, where he worked as operations director until he retired.
Jeff was deeply loved and honored by his family. He is survived by his adoring wife of 42 years, Roberta M. Raymond; his daughter, Annie Raymond; his son, Jake Raymond, and daughter-in-law Laura Valencia Orozco; and his new love grandchild, Sofia Xareni Raymond Valencia. He is also survived by his brothers Jack and Joel Raymond; niece, Faith Fugazi; and nephews, Josh Raymond and Torrie Round. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Georgia Raymond
Jeff was intelligent, articulate and broadly knowledgeable. He lived his life with compassion and purpose. For his family he nurtured and provided well. Friends and family reveled in his quickness to find life’s humor and ironies. He found joy in family and friends, avid reading, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, making music, cooking, a good restaurant, poker, gardening (mowing), planning and building and almost any sport. He loved croquet, bocce, downhill skiing, and, though a lifelong golfer, he didn’t get his first hole in one until age 70. Family and friends will be invited to celebrate Jeff’s life at his home in Trenton at a time to be determined. The family suggests memorial gifts to Maine Coast Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. https://www.mainegardens.org.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.