NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectman A. Wayne Cobb died Tuesday at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston from complications from a series of complex medical problems he battled in recent years.

Cobb, 67, served New Gloucester in multiple roles over the years. He was town manager for 12 years until 1987. After that, he was named as the first executive director of Mid-Maine Waste Action Corporation. He was later employed by the Poland schools.

In the past several years he returned to local government serving as a volunteer on the New Gloucester Budget Committee, the Capital Improvement Planning Committee and the Fire Department Committee searching for a new central fire station.

In 2005, he made an unsuccessful bid for selectman and a year later won a three-year term.

Barbara Pollard of Gray remembers Cobb since his early childhood. “When I was 10 years old I took care of him spending most of my time with him.” And, for 12 years she se rved as assistant town manager working side by side with Cobb. “My son Wayne is named after him. I had a strong attachment to him. He had a good heart and soul. His intentions were always good.”

David Lunt, chairman of the New Gloucester board, said, “Over the years he became a friend. The longer I knew him, the more respect I had for him. He was much deeper than he appeared on the surface.”

“As sick as he was, he kept tuned in and always said, ‘don’t forget to call me’ and “what’s going on.'” Lunt recalled how Cobb earned a pass from a local nursing home where he was recuperating to attend a recent selectmen’s meeting. “He truly cared about New Gloucester’s future,” he said.

Lunt said an election to fill Cobb’s remaining term will be held soon.

A memorial service will be held at the Cumberland Masonic Lodge at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Bald Hill Road and Route 100.

Cobb, a widower, is the father of two adult sons, Stephen and David. His wife, Linda, died several years ago.

A friend, Pat Dionisio, said, “I’ve lost a good friend.” She recalled that Cobb recently decided to drive through every road in New Gloucester. “It felt like he was saying goodbye.”