AUBURN – Fergus Upham, 88, of Auburn, died peacefully Friday, Jan. 6, at The Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, surrounded by his family and caring hospice staff.

He was born March 19, 1917, in Newton, Mass., the son of Edward Payson and Aileen Ferguson Upham. He attended Newton schools and graduated from Loomis School, Windsor, Conn., in 1934. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1938 with a degree in mathematics. While at Bowdoin, he participated in football, hockey and track, and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

On Jan. 21, 1939, he married the former Edwina Perkins in a ceremony at her home on 55 Shepley St., Auburn. They were married almost 67 years.

He was employed by Auburn Savings and Loan Association from 1938 to 1981, serving as its managing officer from 1942 to 1946, then as a director until his retirement.

He chaired the Maine Business Study Conference in 1950, served as president of the Maine Savings and Loan League in 1952, and was president of New England Conference of Savings and Loans in 1972.

He was the author of various papers circulated in regional and national trade publications. He was also a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston from 1956 to 1962. In 1948, he was appointed to Auburn’s Citizens’ Committee to propose new zoning rules. The next year he was appointed to the newly created Auburn Citizens’ Board of Zoning Appeals where he served for 10 years, several as chairman.

In 1959, he was appointed to the Auburn Planning Board and served as its chairman from 1961 to 1971.

He was a passionate sports enthusiast. He served several years as director and treasurer of the Auburn Ski Association. He became involved in sailing and sailboat racing as a member of Taylor Pond Yacht Club, where he served as commodore in 1963 and as treasurer from 1975 to 1993. He was a member of the U.S. Sailing Association, which recognized him as a senior race officer, qualified to manage sail racing regattas at an international level.

During World War II, he served as a treasury department volunteer in promoting the sale of U.S. War Savings Bonds. He also served as a regimental intelligence officer in the Maine State Guard. He was a corporator of the Central Maine Health Care Corporation. He was also corporator of the Auburn Public Library, where he served as auditor for several years. He was a longtime member of the High Street Congregation Church.

He is survived by his wife, Edwina; three children, his daughter, Janice Upham of Auburn, his son, Thomas F. Upham and his wife, Judy, of Wilton, and his son, James P. Upham and his wife, Susan, of Bath; four grandchildren, Gretchen Fleming and husband, Brian, and James, Hannah and Betsy Upham; four great-grandchildren, Andrew, Matthew, Libby and Abby Fleming; a nephew, Edward Upham of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and a niece, Sue U. Lynn of St. Petersburg, Fla.

He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Carol; and a brother, Lewis.

Copy the Story Link