BANGOR – Affiliated Healthcare Systems broke ground Monday on the Douglas H. Brown Building, which will be a 28,000-square-foot office and operations facility on Union Street. It will house Affiliated Healthcare Systems and Meridian Mobile Health-Capital Ambulance.

Doug Brown served for three decades as a member of the Eastern Maine Medical Center, Eastern Maine Healthcare and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems boards of directors. He is a founding member of Affiliated Healthcare Systems, a for-profit health care support services arm of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. Hospital officials credited Brown for his business acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, marketing savvy and refreshing candor.

Brown was perhaps best known for operating Doug’s Shop ‘n Save Supermarkets in Maine for many years.

Brown attended the groundbreaking and his daughter Debra Additon read a statement on his behalf.

“I would like to thank everyone for attending this groundbreaking ceremony,” the statement read. “For a country boy from Lubec, without the benefit of a college education, having a building named in my honor is the last thing I would have expected. As mentioned, I have had a long association with Eastern Maine Medical Center and its affiliates.

“In 1975 I became a trustee for Eastern Maine Medical Center and have since served in a number of leadership capacities. I am proud to witness the growth and improvement of both the medical infrastructure and medical care capabilities since that time. With a strong leadership team and great medical staff in place, I expect this trend will continue throughout the eastern Maine system.

“Some might say I have given a lot to the hospital and its affiliates. This may be true. But my family and I have also been the beneficiaries of a great deal of quality medical care over the years. I’ve always believed in giving back to the community and helping the hospital has always been a labor of love for me. However, I would like to acknowledge my family’s sacrifice, especially my late wife, Ana, who allowed me to spend numerous hours on hospital-related matters. I never did this for the personal glory; I only wanted to make the hospital better for the community. That said, however, to be recognized with having a building named for me is indeed a great honor. It is my hope that this new facility can improve the Affiliated Healthcare Systems’ operations and the Meridian Mobile Health-Capital Ambulance service for our community.”

Additon said that in 1939, when Doug Brown was 10, his infant brother, Glenn, was seriously ill and received free lifesaving care at Eastern Maine General Hospital. The provision of that free care “typifies what Dad has strived for in his 30 years of volunteer service, making quality medical care available for everyone in our region of Maine,” she said.