MINOT — Sun Journal freelance writer Winslow S. Durgin, who died Friday, was remembered Monday as fair, honest and caring by the people he wrote about for many years.

Durgin, 78, covered the towns of Minot, Poland and Mechanic Falls. Stanley Tetenman, chairman of the Poland Board of Selectmen, had nothing but kind words to say about Durgin. 

“He was someone who attended all of our meetings, and everything he reported on, for the time I’ve been there at least, (it) has been done so fairly and objectively,” Tetenman said. “And I always appreciated his friendship.”

Tetenman played softball with Durgin’s brother, Mike, so when Win started reporting on the town meetings, Tetenman struck up a friendship with him.

“He was a wonderful man, very honest,” he said. “I’m going to miss seeing him. Whenever I got a chance to speak with him, I would. He was always just a very kind man. He never spoke poorly about someone — anyone.” 

Mechanic Falls Town Manager Koriene Low said Durgin was an “articulate and caring man who always wanted to provide his readers with accurate, impartial information to assure community members could make informed decisions. He will be greatly missed. One of a kind.”

Durgin was born Oct. 25, 1938, in Lewiston, and spent his life in New England. After graduating from Hebron Academy, he went on to receive a master’s degree in philosophy from Boston College. 

He spent time as a high school teacher in Maine and Massachusetts before working for the Sun Journal. He was an avid traveler, journeying in the U.S. and abroad, including many times to Nicaragua to attend poetry festivals and photograph the people. He also fought for human rights in Nicaragua.  

Win was a poet and had two published books. He also treated family and friends to a poem each Christmas. 

According to his family, Durgin was a lover of dinosaurs, history and all things Harry Potter.