RUMFORD – David H. Dearborn, 61, a well-known sports writer of Rumford, died Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Rumford Hospital after a short illness.

He was born in Rochester, N.H., June 28, 1947, the son of Fred and Jennie (Armstrong) Dearborn. He graduated from Berlin High School, Berlin, N.H., and from the University of New Hampshire with his bachelor of arts degree in social sciences, and received his master’s in social sciences from Boston University.

He was a social worker for New Hampshire, in alcohol counseling, and wrote for the Berlin Reporter before moving to Rumford, where he was the sports editor for the Rumford Falls Times and later served as a staff writer.

In recent years, he also has done substitute teaching in the greater Rumford area schools.

He was a member of the Rumford Falls Aerie 1248, where he loved to play pool, and also a member of the Rumford Maine Lodge 862, B.P.O.E., and was a member of AA.

He loved sports and was currently a radio announcer for the Mountain Valley and Dixfield area sports, was a basketball referee and coached Little League for many years at the Greater Rumford Area Community Center, where he has also served on the board of directors for more than 20 years. He also coached basketball for the Dirigo Middle School and was their score keeper. He also served as an umpire for area baseball and softball for many years.

He was a past president of the Men’s Fast Pitch Softball League and currently served as president of the Women’s Softball League. He was also a past member of the Rumford Parks Commission.

Only distant relatives survive. Some of his closest friends were Bob Anderson and wife, Kim, of Dixfield, Michael Gaydo of Berlin, N.H., and Charlie Haggart of Berlin, N.H.