WATERVILLE – Arthur “Red” O’Halloran passed peacefully on Oct. 27, surrounded and strengthened by the love of his children.

He was born on June 4, 1925, in Amherst, the sixth and youngest child of Charles and Julia Jewett O’Halloran. Both Charles and Julia died when “Red” was still a young boy, so at the tender age of 15, he left Amherst for Charleston where he joined his sister, Mary and his brother, Robert and attended Higgins Classical Institute.

After graduating from Higgins with honors in 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy as a 2nd Lieutenant and was trained as a navigator at Saint Mary’s College in California. Upon completion of his training, he flew missions in the Pacific Theatre before being honorably discharged in 1945.

After the war, he boarded a train bound for Bangor and in 1946, he enrolled at Colby College after a brief half-hour interview with Dean Ernest Marriner, upon which he was swiftly admitted. In keeping with his persona, he took full advantage of his time at Colby, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, the Inter-fraternity Council, the Inter-student Council and Greek Letter Society, and the Outing Club.

He also proved to be an outstanding middle distance runner, and as member of the Colby Varsity Indoor and Outdoor Track teams, he won many races and set school records in the 220 and 440 yard dash. In addition to his athletic prowess, his leadership ability earned him the title of team captain as a sophomore.

He also served as a Student Dormitory Proctor for three years and was a member of the Debate Club. Part of his time was spent on Colby’s original campus, but he graduated in 1950 as an administrative science major from Mayflower Hill. Beyond all those activities, perhaps his greatest accomplishment during his time at Colby was when he met and eventually married Marcella LaVerdiere, who also graduated from Colby in 1953.

He and Marcie married on Jan. 8, 1954, at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Waterville. Together they had six children, Lili Anne, Gregory, Daniel, Timothy, Julia (who died shortly after being born) and Kathleen. After a tenacious battle with cancer, Marcie predeceased him in 1989, yet he was determined to keep the family together. After years of spending many hours at his office at Boothby & Bartlett, he refocused much of his energy on his family, continuing to host holidays at his home on Eaton Drive and picking out special gifts and cards for his children and 10 grandchildren.

Upon graduating from Colby, he initially became a Field Representative for the Home Insurance Co., and traveled the entire state of Maine. During that time, he lived as a boarder with an elderly woman in Fairfield, Hazel Sprague. The two quickly became dear friends, and he and his children continued to spend time with Mrs. Sprague throughout her life.

He never got too far away from his Colby roots, spending the next five decades just down the hill selling insurance at Boothby & Bartlett Co. In 1951, he was hired as an agent and became a Vice President for the company in 1971. Dan O’Halloran joined his father at Boothby & Bartlett in 1986; “Red” continued working through early October of this year, just weeks before his passing.

He was tremendously well-known and respected within the insurance industry; as such he served on the advisory board of many insurance companies. He was a director for the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Maine for several years, and served as president in 1976. He earned his CPCU designation (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter) from the American Insurance Institute in 1974.

He felt strongly about the Waterville community and remained actively engaged throughout his life. He served on the Waterville School Board and the Waterville Charter Commission, and he served as a director on many local boards, including: Mount St. Joseph, Waterville Sewerage District, Waterville Savings and Loan Association (Director 1969-1995, Chairman of the Board 1987-1992), and Kennebec Savings Bank. He was a life-member of both the Lions Club and the Elks Club.

He never forgot the special role that Colby played in his life; he and his family frequented Colby athletic and cultural events, class reunions, and he remained actively involved in the Alumni Association. He made significant contributions of his time, energy, and financial support to the college, and in 1980, he was honored as the Colby “C” Club Man of the Year “in recognition of the ongoing support of Colby athletics and the special, personal concern you and your entire family have shown to student athletes.” He was given the Colby Brick Award in 1982, awarded annually to members of the Colby family who have demonstrated outstanding loyalty to the college through consistent and dedicated service on its behalf.

His commitment to youth, his appreciation for education, and his love of athletics made a profound impression on the people around him. His compassion, wit, work ethic and integrity will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. The consummate gentleman, his legacy lives on through his children, grandchildren and friends.

He is survived by brothers, James O’Halloran, of Manchester, N.H., and Norman O’Halloran of Amherst; by his five children and their families, Lili, Jack and Ashley Richmond, of Portland, Greg, Jessica, Kelly, Amy and Janie O’Halloran, of Benton, Dan, Jane, Charles and Olivia O’Halloran, of Yarmouth, Tim, Judi, Morgan, Danielle, and Christi O’Halloran, of Scarborough and Kate O’Halloran, who returned home to Waterville last September to live with and care for her father; his beloved dog, “Fireball Katie,” died peacefully on Oct. 18, after five years of being his loyal and treasured companion.

In addition to his dear wife, Marcie, he was predeceased by his sisters, Katherine O’Halloran and Mary O’Halloran Fournier, and by his brother, Robert O’Halloran.

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