Judge Edwin Smith of Bar Harbor dies

BAR HARBOR – Retired Maine District Court Judge Edwin R. Smith of Bar Harbor died Tuesday at his home. He was 93.

Smith was appointed to the District Court in 1966 by Gov. John Reed. He presided regularly until 1978. He then was appointed as an active retired judge, and sat in both District and Superior courts throughout Maine.

According to his son, Chad Smith, a Bar Harbor attorney, Edwin Smith played a role in the establishment of Maine’s District Court System while serving as a representative in the 100th and 101st state legislatures, a decision Smith described as unpopular at the time. He also worked to create the University of Maine School of Law.

Aside from his involvement in Maine politics, Smith was an active member in his community, working to create new opportunities for residents of Mount Desert Island. “He was a builder of many things,” said his daughter-in-law, Marion Smith. “In terms of the last century and the state of Maine, he did a lot.”

Smith was instrumental in establishing the Mount Desert Island Rotary Club and was elected its first president. He later was named a Paul Harris Fellow, an honor named after Rotary’s founder and given to those who perpetuate the principles of Rotary in their everyday life.

Smith also worked on a planning committee that led to the creation of the Mount Desert Island High School and was a member of numerous boards and councils in the community, including the board of trustees of the Bar Harbor Congregational Church.

“This last week I couldn’t stop thinking of all these things he did for the community. He made it a better place,” said Marion Smith. “He loved Bar Harbor. He thought it was the perfect town. He had huge pride in the communities he was involved in.”

Despite his numerous accomplishments, family and friends say Smith was humble, “a self-effacing son of a minister,” according to Chad Smith.

“He didn’t believe in wearing his laurels on his shirt sleeve,” said Donald Hobbs, a friend and fellow charter member of the Mount Desert Island Rotary Club. “He was proud of being a good attorney and a good representative in the Legislature for the time he was there.”

“He was a huge man in many ways and yet very modest,” said Marion Smith.

According to Marion Smith, he was very proud of his two granddaughters, Megan Smith of Middlebury, Vt., And Heather LaPerle of Park City, Utah. Smith also was awaiting the birth of his first great-grandchild, who is expected to be born in the coming weeks.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church.