LEWISTON — Winslow S. Durgin, 78, of Minot, passed away Friday, June 16, at Central Maine Medical Center.

He was born in Lewiston on Oct. 25, 1938, to Winslow S. Durgin Sr. and Veronica Holmes Durgin. Winslow received his early education from nearby schools and brooks, forests and fields. He graduated from Hebron Academy in 1957 and received a master’s degree in philosophy from Boston College.

In 1969, Winslow married Marion Jones with whom he had his only child, Elizabeth.

Throughout his life, Winslow traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad. He shared his outward journeys through slide lectures and natural history articles for Yankee and Down East Magazines.

He traveled numerous times to Nicaragua for poetry festivals and to photograph the people. Back at home he was a strong advocate for the end of oppressive practices in Central America.

In 1988, Winslow married Barbara Nason whom he had met at a Neighbor to Neighbor meeting, a group working for human rights in Nicaragua.

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Winslow taught at high schools in Massachusetts and Maine including Oak Hill, Edward Little and Biddeford. He worked in community development in Wilton and for the city of Lewiston.

In recent years, Winslow reported for the Lewiston Sun Journal. He was a regular fixture at community meetings, school events and ballgames in Minot, Poland and Mechanic Falls.

Winslow was a poet, having two books published. He treated family and friends to a poem every Christmas.

He also had a passion for researching genealogy. He claims to have traced his and his wife Barbara’s relatives back to the Mayflower and William the Conqueror.

Winslow was a lover of dinosaurs, history and all things Harry Potter. He was loved by all who knew him. He will be truly missed by his family and community.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Durgin of Minot; daughter, Elizabeth Durgin of Auburn; stepson, Mark Nason and partner, Kathy Harlow, of Pownal; stepdaughter, Wendy Banks and husband, Lansing, of Gloucester, Mass.; grandchildren, Michael Grinnell of Auburn, Jacob Nason and wife, Kavita, of Auburn, Heather DeWyze and husband, Cliff, of St. Petersburg, Fla., Amy Tardif of San Diego, Calif., Nicole Swenson and husband, Nate, of Hebron, Adam Nason and partner, Allison Sampson, of Poland, Ryan Banks and wife, Lindsay, of Manchester, Mass., Monica Banks and Sean Banks, both of Gloucester, Mass., Chelsea Osgood and husband, Josh, of Durham and Katie Harlow of Pownal; brothers, Peter Durgin of Auburn and Michael Durgin and wife, Cheryl, of Auburn; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Condolences can be expressed to the family by visiting www.chandlerfunerals.com.

Winslow S. Durgin Jr.


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