NORTH TURNER – Charles Tanous, 72, died June 11 at his beloved home in North Turner, after a long battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He died as he wanted, surrounded by family and friends.

He was born in Van Buren, Oct. 5, 1934, the son of Alice and Thomas Tanous. He was the fifth of eight boys. He was educated in Van Buren public schools and graduated Van Buren Boys High in 1952.

Only 17, he left Van Buren and moved to Wilmington, Del., where he worked for a year as an automotive assembler for General Motors. He joined the Army in May 1953, and served in the military police until May 1955.

He worked briefly as a clerk with the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C., and attended George Washington University. Returning to Maine, he completed his bachelor of science in education at the University of Maine, Orono, and accepted a position as teacher/coach at Vinalhaven Jr.-Sr. High School.

While at Orono, he met the former Cynthia Downing. They were married on July 3, 1961, and he went on to complete his master’s in educational administration. In 1963, after the birth of their first child, he accepted a position as principal at Buckfield High School. He served as principal from 1963 to 1967, and as superintendent of schools for SAD 39 and Peru from 1967 to 1968.

Three more children were born, and in 1968, he accepted the position of superintendent of schools in his hometown of Van Buren. In 1974, the family returned to their home in North Turner, and he began a new career in real estate, earning his broker’s license in 1975.

He worked as a property manager for Northeast Realty Management and then as a housing management specialist for the Maine State Housing Authority. However, education was always his first love, and in 1986 he accepted the position of superintendent/principal of Islesboro Central School in Islesboro. In 1988, he became director of vocational Region 9 in Mexico, a position he held for five years before retiring in 1993.

Throughout his career, his major concern was for the underprivileged student whether due to poverty, disability, or geographic isolation. While in SAD 24, he was involved with the vocational movement as the state of Maine began developing the regional concept of delivering vocational education.

He co-authored a bill that lifted the moratorium on the development of regions and thereby assured that students across the state had an equal opportunity. While in Van Buren, he developed building plans and secured voter approval for a major addition to the high school, which incorporated excellent technical trades shops.

During this period, he was also instrumental in securing the funding for a new municipal library and a new community center, two projects dear to his heart. First and foremost, he was a strong man, a loving husband and father and a staunch friend maintaining friendships begun in childhood and developing new ones in each place he worked or volunteered and in Sarasota, Fla., during the winters of his retirement.

“Come and visit,” were the words most often on his lips. He enjoyed traveling, sailing, hunting, fishing, playing cards, taking pictures, cheering on the Red Sox and the Patriots, having breakfast at the local store, and carrying out innumerable projects designed to improve the family home in North Turner.

His favorite event was Thanksgiving when he hosted up to 50 family members and friends. He and his wife have been members of St. Philips Church since 1974, during which time he served on the parish council, the religious education committee, the finance committee, and the diocesan human relations board representing District II.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; son, William Tanous, and his wife, Christine, of Auburn; daughter, Laura Tanous-Marshall, and her husband, Brian, of North Turner; daughter, Andrea Wilson, and her husband, Joseph, of Carlsbad, Calif.; son, Mark Tanous, and his wife, Jennifer, of North Turner; foster son, Dana Callan, of Belfast; seven grandchildren, Victoria Tanous, Catherine Tanous, Scott Marshall, Hunter Marshall, Haid Tanous, Marla Tanous and Ashley Callan; brother, Wakine Tanous, and wife, Ann, of East Millinocket; brother, Joseph Tanous of Hingham, Mass.; brother, Thomas Tanous, and wife, Esther, of Wenham, Mass.; sister-in-law, Marcia Farr, and husband, Don, of Portland; brother-in-law, Peter Downing, and wife, Diane, of Smithfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; and four brothers, Alexander Tanous, Nagel Tanous, Nolan Tanous and David Tanous.

The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for their dedication and care and particularly to Marie Hupper, his devoted nurse.