Don's obituary:
Donald Paul Radovich, 56, died Oct. 5, 2008, at a Blue Hill hospital. He was born April 15, 1952, in Long Beach, Calif., the son of John and Marie H. (Shaffer) Radovich.
Don was raised in Anaheim and Sacramento, Calif., and worked at a variety of jobs to support his love of travel. He graduated from California State University in Sacramento, earned a master's degree in history, and turned his thesis into a published book, "Tony Richardson: A Bio-bibliography," in 1995. Don attended the L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation at the Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y. In 1999, he moved from Rochester to Bucksport for work, fell in love, and got happily trapped in Maine. He worked in journalism in Ellsworth and began his own photography business in 2004. Don was a volunteer programmer at WERU, both for fun and to share his vast knowledge of rock 'n' roll history. An expert in 3D photography, Don was a member of the National Stereoscopic Association.
For those of us lucky enough to know Don, he was a constant source of delightful surprise. He made us laugh and challenged us with his active imagination every day. He helped us all to see the world with more empathy and grace. Don's creative energy was boundless. Whether writing books, plays, movie reviews, or songs, his talent flowed out of him in an exuberant stream. He pushed for perfection, whether repairing splices in home movies, producing music with his band or his family, whipping up pecan mini muffins at the Blue Hill Inn, dazzling an audience with his guitar playing, or mixing martinis at home. He shared himself with generosity and candor and always invited us into his world of endless possibilities. Don brought all of this and more to his unexpected, and much too brief, gig as a stepfather.
Don is survived by his mother, Marie of Sacramento; partner and wife, Paige Lilly; stepson, Matthew Stephens; stepdaughter, Lorna Stephens, all of Blue Hill; brother, Robert of Montana; a niece and nephew; and first wife, Carol Radovich of New York.
Don was passionate about animal rights. If you would like to do something in Don's memory, please consider adopting a pet or contributing time or money at an animal shelter.