AUGUSTA – With a heart full of love and a life filled with compassion for his fellow man, Norman J. Temple, 85, formerly of Gardiner, died on Oct. 10, in the arms of his family. True to nature’s credo, he left this world in better condition than when he found it.

Norm was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 30, 1921, to Norman J. and Grace Hall Temple. After his mother’s death in 1924, his father married Marie Bloomfield, who raised Norm along with four brothers and three sisters in Rahway, N.J.

He graduated from Rahway High School in 1940, and then entered Bates College. He was a member of the debate team while he worked his way through with various jobs including college news writer and photographer. He left Bates to join the Army Air Corps, serving as a B-24 pilot with 34 missions over Germany. He also served as 446th Bomb Group briefing officer and Assistant Group Operations Officer. Discharged in October 1945, he returned to Bates, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1947. In 1946, he was a member of the debate team sent to Great Britain on a six-week tour of major universities in Scotland and England.

After graduation he joined the Bates faculty as acting director of debate and instructor in public speaking during the sabbatical leave of famed Bates debate coach Brooks Quimby. For two summers he worked as waterfront director of the Maine State YMCA Camp on Lake Cobbosseecontee in Winthrop. He later became associate state secretary of the YMCA, forming non-building Y work in rural areas in and around Dexter, Dover Foxcroft and Guilford while spending summers as director of the state Y Camp.

After six years he left the YMCA to join the Maine Development Commission, doing state publicity and industrial development under founder Everett Greaton.

In 1956, he joined Central Maine Power Co. and was elected vice president in 1966.

He retired from CMP in 1984, and served as governmental affairs consultant and Washington, D.C. lobbyist for both CMP and Maine Yankee. As a tribute to him, CMP named its annual golf tournament after him.

He was state commander of the Military Order of the World Wars/State of Maine Chapter; vice president of the State YMCA of Maine and Camp Committee; advisory board member of the Pine Tree Council, Boy Scouts of America; director and member of the Maine Council on Economic Education; member of the planning committee of the Colby College Institute for Management; on the board of directors of the Maine Publicity Bureau; member of the Electric Council of New England; president of the Augusta Hallowell Chamber of Commerce (now Kennebec Valley Chamber); state chairman of the New England Council (now Chamber of Commerce of New England); and founding member of the Friends of Margaret Chase Smith Library.

He was an active member of Christ Church Episcopal in Gardiner for more than 50 years and a former vestry member.

He believed strongly in giving back to his community. After retirement, he continued to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the United Way and was both honored and pleased to be the first recipient of the annual Norman J. Temple Volunteer of the Year award. He was also a volunteer for Legal Services for the Elderly and the YMCA capital campaign.

He loved life. He was an avid golfer and member of the Augusta Country Club for more than 40 years; he loved to fish, swim and was known as a professional grandfather.

Barbara and Norman’s pride and joy were their three children and their families. They are survived by son, Jeffrey M. Temple, and wife, Debra, of Gardiner, Kim Temple Fast, and husband, Robert, of Wilton and Christopher O. Temple, and wife, Gina, of Gardiner; grandchildren, Andrew Temple, Cassi Howe, Joseph Bureau, Michelle Bureau, Hilary Fast, Meredith Fast, Linda Fast Jodrie, Robert Fast Jr., Grace Temple, Samuel Temple, Lillian Temple and Oliver Temple, and four great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased just 10 months ago by his beloved wife of 57 years, Barbara MacLeod Smith Temple; and two brothers, Richard Temple and William Temple.