William P. Hancock, Jr.
William P. Hancock, Jr.
CAPE NEDDICK - William P. Hancock Jr., 86, retired Maine State Police captain and former Ogunquit chief of police, died peacefully at his home Sunday, July 6, 2008.
Born in York to William P. Hancock, Sr., and Hazel Ellis Hancock on Dec. 28, 1921, he attended York High School, Kents Hill and Colby College. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 and served as a gunner on a B-26 bomber. He was shot down over Italy in August of 1943, and was missing in action for 11 months. He escaped through the Allied lines on July 5, 1944, returning to the U.S. after being honorably discharged with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart in May of 1945.
On Oct. 2, 1946, he married Alma Matteo. He joined the Maine State Police in 1948, retiring after a distinguished career at the rank of captain in 1970. In 1974 he became chief of police in Ogunquit, where he brought his own unique style of professionalism and community policing to the town. He retired in 1993. He also owned and operated the Ogunquit Lobster Pound with his wife from 1967 to 1984.
Bill was a lifelong hunter whose yearly trips with his friends to his camp in northern Maine brought back more great memories than deer. He also loved to play golf almost as much as he loved his family and the company of his many friends. His easy smile and remarkable sense of humor were always there right up to the end of his life.
He was predeceased by his brother, Frank, and wife Alma.
He is survived by his sister, Jane Shaw of Ogunquit; his three children, Lauren Goldberg, of Boulder, Colo., William P. Hancock III of Cape Neddick, and Lisa Hancock of Cape Neddick; six grandchildren, Matthew Szczygiel and wife Debbie, Meg Whittle, Jesse Taylor, Ava Goldberg, Bryan Williams and Ivan Goldberg, and four great-grandchildren, Natalie York, Madison and Matthew Szczygiel and Caleb Walker.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on July 12 in the First Parish Congregational Church, 180 York St., York. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross. Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, www.lucaseatonfuneralhome.com, is directing arrangements.
Robert H. Smith
YORK - Robert H. Smith, 90, of 37 Perkins Drive, died Sunday, June 29, 2008, in the Maine Medical Center, Portland.
He was born July 30, 1917, in Newark, N.J., son of Raymond C. and Edith Smith. He graduated from Bloomfield, N.J., High School in 1935 and Newark College of Engineering in 1941. He worked as an industrial engineer for many companies in New Jersey, including 26 years for General Electric.
His wife of 51 years, Betsy (Mattox) Smith, died in June of 1995.
He was also predeceased by a brother, Lloyd, who was killed during World War II in the Battle of the Bulge, and a sister, Lois, who died in 2002.
During World War II, he fought in the Pacific Theatre with the U. S. Navy and was in Okinawa, Japan, when the war ended.
He is survived by twin sons, Richard Smith of Bloomsbury, N.J., and Robert Smith of Milford, Del.; four grandchildren, Timothy, Mark, Tyler and Ryan; a great-granddaughter, Jessica, and a very good friend, Pat Judge of York.
Calling hours and funeral service for Mr. Smith were held July 2 in the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, www.lucaseatonfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Maine Veteran's Home, Employee Assoc. Fund, Attn. Steve Garde, 290 US Rte. 1, Scarborough, ME 07074.
