LEWISTON – Eric Stafford Bechtel, 51, died peacefully after a long illness with family at his side on Oct. 13, at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

He was born on June 9, 1954, in Newark, N.J., and most recently lived in Litchfield. He attended Lewiston schools and graduated from Lewiston High School Class of 1972. He also attended Bates College Class of 1976.

He worked in many restaurants, beginning at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Lewiston while in high school. He continued in various capacities in the hospitality industry, including manager of the Steak Smith restaurant in Santa Fe, N.M., and the McSeagulls restaurant in Boothbay Harbor.

He will be sadly missed by his family and many longtime friends, some whom have been his friends since nursery school. He cared deeply about his friends and family, often putting their concerns before his own.

Eric loved to visit the family cabin in Phillips and spent many happy days there. The Rangeley and Moosehead regions were also very special to him. He was passionate about many sports, including ice hockey, baseball and football. He loved to play ice hockey since learning to skate at the Lewiston arena and Bates Pond when he was a young boy. He also loved the Blues, New Orleans and cooking for family and friends.

He is survived by his parents, Dr. Leland Peterman Bechtel and Claudina Stafford Bechtel of Weld; his brother, Dr. Mark Bechtel and wife, Deborah, of Mesquite, Nev., and their children, Maurice Cloutier of Vermont and Dr. Jennifer Wilcox of Worcester, Mass.; his sister, Jane Bechtel Lafleur of Camden and her husband, Joel Lafleur M.D., and their children, Adam and Sarah Lafleur; his brother, Carl Bechtel of Weld; his brother, Kurt Bechtel of Litchfield and partner, Denise Bolduc, and her son, Marc; and his partner, Rhonda Dunn of Litchfield.

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