Voyle Abbott Besse
1925 – 2009
LEWISTON — Voyle Besse passed away peacefully at Central Maine Medical Center on the evening of Oct. 28, after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Clinton, the second son of Charline Libbey Abbott and Floyd Rowe Besse. He attended Bridgton Academy and, after World War ll, graduated from Carleton College in Minnesota. He later earned a Master’s degree from New York University.
During World War ll, he served in the Army Air Force as a tail gunner in B17s in flights over Germany. He was shot down in his last scheduled flight while dropping peace pamphlets, and the plane had to crash land in a field. All the crew survived.
He loved literature, art and music, and was a life long student of history, with a passion for justice and human rights. He taught for many years at Malverne High School on Long Island, N.Y., where he created one of the first black studies programs for secondary schools in the nation.
After retirement from teaching, he split his time between Harrison in summers on a family island retreat, and in winters, at his amazing apartment in Lewiston, a town he came to love. He was an avid gardener, an enthusiastic dealer in antique glass, and a committed environmental activist.
He was one of a kind – a mentor, a conservative, a liberal, a great friend to decent people and to all animals, especially cats. He was a no nonsense Maine “bodhisattva”.
He is survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
He was predeceased by his father; his mother; his older brother, Belden A. Besse; and his beloved cat, Flonk.
You all know who you are.