Wayne McCamish

Since he was a little boy, Marshall McCamish, a school resource officer with the Auburn Police Department, wanted to become a police officer.

“My first memories are of visiting the Augusta Police Department where my father, Wayne McCamish, was a supervisor of the Criminal Investigations Division,” said McCamish. His favorite memory involved seeing his father interact with other officers.

“Whether it was simply stopping in the patrol area and asking the officers how their families were doing, or joking with an officer in the hall, it was great to see how he could get an officer to smile or laugh. Police work can be stressful.” He was impressed by the way his father took the time to really “connect” with his officers.

Gerard Raymond

When Jennifer Williams, transportation director at the Androscoggin County Council of Governments, was a schoolgirl at St. Peter’s in Lewiston, she often walked across Kennedy Park after school to join her father, Gerard Raymond, at his office in Lewiston City Hall where he was on the planning staff for the city of Lewiston. Her father stayed until his work day was done, and she said, “My father always had maps and colored pencils for me to use.” She colored a lot of maps during those long afternoons at the city building after (or instead of) finishing her homework. “I learned a lot about zoning maps,” she added.

Curtis Webber

Attorney Rebecca Webber remembers the technology, or lack thereof, at her father, Curtis Webber’s law office. “It was before computers, and they had something called a ‘mad card’ machine … apparently it was innovative.”

What impressed and inspired her the most, however, was watching as her dad “made real, positive and powerful changes in his community, [and] wanting to be able to effect those changes myself.” Webber’s grandfather, Donald Webber, was a judge, including on Maine’s Law Court, its highest court. “He was known for his gentility, his kindness and his wisdom,” and has also been a source of inspiration for Webber.

Daniel Dostie

Michael Dostie, of J. Dostie Jewelers in Lewiston, remembers driving to Lewiston with his dad, Daniel Dostie, a certified gemologist appraiser, from their home near the coast and playing with his Legos behind the service counter while his dad worked at his bench or assisted customers. He recalls, about 20 years ago, “My father brought my two sisters and me into the jewelry workshop and taught us how to make a basic bangle bracelet. The process involved hammering a piece of silver for about an hour,” he said, “and I’ll never forget what my dad told us to help pass the time: We should hammer to the beat of a song ‘like this, BingBingBing Bing! BingBingBing Bing!’” After finishing the bracelet, Dostie gave it to his mother who wore it often. “Although I was outwardly embarrassed every time she showed it off, it really made me proud.”

Following in father’s footsteps

Like Webber, Dostie is the third generation in his family to enter his respective occupation. “Sixty-six years ago my grandfather, Jules Dostie, started [J. Dostie Jewelers].” He owned and operated it, along with Dostie’s grandmother, before selling the business to Dostie’s father.

Both Webber and Dostie spoke of their fathers’ passion for his chosen field.

Webber’s father is nearly 80 and he goes to the office just about every day. “The law is his passion,” said Webber.

Dostie said, “My father is extremely passionate about everything he does [and] that enthusiasm and pride — the way he would speak about the beauty and craftsmanship of a piece of jewelry — has always been contagious.”

McCamish said, “I saw how much my father truly enjoyed law enforcement. I watched as he was promoted over the years through the ranks and ultimately was promoted to chief of police.” It is what inspired the son to pursue a career in law enforcement and upon graduating from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, said McCamish, “It was an honor to have my father pin my badge on my chest. That is a day that I will never forget.”

“My father enjoyed his job in the planning department for the city of Lewiston. He was proud of the work he was doing in and for the city, and he taught me and my siblings to be proud of our hometown,” said Williams. Although she didn’t follow directly in his footsteps in the field of land use planning, she said, “He definitely influenced my focus in civil engineering, land development and transportation engineering. Seeing his contributions made me want to do my part.”

Williams’s dad has long since retired from his work for the city of Lewiston. “He is currently the executive director at St. Peter’s Cemetery, and has been since 1990.”

McCamish’s dad retired just a couple of years ago, after serving with the Augusta Police Department for 37-and-a-half years.

Although Dostie’s dad has stepped back from most of the responsibility of running the jewelry business, He has not yet fully retired and maintains an ownership interest in the business,” said the younger Dostie.

And, when asked when she expects that her father will retire, Webber responded, “Never!”