PORTLAND – George M. Gamble, 79, of Bethel passed away May 31 at Maine Medical Center after a courageous 12 year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born on March 30, 1927, in Springfield, Mass., the son of George and Ellen (Curry) Gamble, and was educated there. He attended Yale University for a year before being called to serve in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from Bates College in 1950, and was president of his class for nearly 50 years. He was recalled by the U.S. Navy for one year during the Korean War. In November 1951 he married Virginia Hastings of Bethel, a college classmate.

Throughout his life, he used his superior communications skills as a radio announcer on WLAM, reading books on tape for the blind, telling stories with many accents and dialects, and always knowing the right thing to say at the appropriate time.

His creative talents included wood-carving. Family members and friends cherish the hand-carved personalized signs that he designed, carved, and painted for them.

His organizational skills were legendary, as he prepared for family events or travels. His plan to house, feed and transport more than 40 friends and family members to the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid is remembered by all with a smile.

He related well to people of all ages, from fascinating children around the world with his bag and invisible ball trick to his volunteer work with patients at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. His grandchildren, their cousins and friends performed many unusual stunts at family gatherings for the treats that the “Candy Man” would pass out as a reward. He was a favorite wherever he went.

He personified the Rotary motto: “Service above self” in all he did. He set an example in his quiet way for others to emulate.

He was alumni director at Bates College from 1951 to 1954. He joined General Electric in advertising and public relations in 1954 and worked in Schenectady, N.Y., Philadelphia and Pittsfield, Mass., more than 12 years. He then moved on to General Cable and was based in New York City. In spite of his long daily commute, he served on the YMCA board and was a Boy Scout Leader in Wilton, Conn. When he became director of corporate communications for Raytheon, he and the family relocated to Sudbury, Mass. In 1973, he became director of creative services at United Brands. He spent 20 wonderful years in Hanover, N.H., as corporate director of communications at AMCA International, where he was in charge of all corporate public relations and advertising. In Hanover, in addition to his corporate responsibilities, he was a selectman and the president of the local Rotary and United Way chapters. He reinstated the 4th of July parade and sang with the North Country Chordsmen.

He traveled extensively all over the world during his business career, and he also organized and led several European trips for friends and Bates classmates.

He and Virginia retired to Bethel in 1999, where he remained active in Rotary and the West Parish Congregational Church, making many new friends as he accepted his declining health with dignity and grace. He was a loving husband and father, who was totally dedicated to his family.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Bethel; two daughters, Laurie Flanagan and her husband, Mark, of Sudbury, Mass., Rebecca Dalke and her husband, Dave, of Shrewsbury, Mass.; a son, Alan Gamble and his wife, Carol, of Newburyport, Mass.; five grandchildren, Kate, Connor and Matthew Flanagan, Heather and Hannah Dalke; a brother, Gordon Gamble and wife, Irene, of Hartford, Conn.; and his mother-in-law, Florence Hastings of Bethel.

He was a friend to all, loved being involved in his community and was especially close to the whole Hastings clan: Allen and Mary-Alice Bancroft, Bob and Betty-Ann Hastings, and David and Ann Morton, their children and grandchildren.

The “Candy Man” will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.