HARRISON — David Paul Freese, 69, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at his home on Long Lake, in Harrison, Maine, where he spent 26 years bird watching, kayaking, listening to loons, watching sunsets, enjoying swimming, boating, pulling tubes and water skiers, with his children, grandchildren, friends and extended family.

David was born in Revere, Mass., on April 12, 1950, but his dad, Paul Freese, moved the family from the “big city” to the “country” in Millis, Mass. He grew up excelling in sports and academics, graduating from Millis High in 1968; he then went on to study at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass., where he earned a BA in Alternative Education.

He spent a few years in California teaching at the Pasadena Alternative School. Upon returning to Mass., he met and fell in love with Linda Armington. They married on Oct. 24, 1975. They moved to Pennsylvania, where David had an opportunity to create an alternative school for adjudicated youth. He started the Appalachian School of Experience, in Carlisle, Pa., an Outward Bound wilderness school, where youth could learn survival skills, white water rafting, rock climbing, leadership skills, and how to get along with others. David then designed his second school, Project L.I.F.E. (Learning Independence From Experience), an experiential vocational high school for youth who had difficulty learning in traditional ways, in Newville, Pa. 

Dave, Linda and the kids enjoyed traveling and adventuring, and spent a year in Prescott, Ariz., but the Freese family decided to escape the desert heat and move to Maine, to help Linda’s parents with the family business, The Kezar Lake Marina, in Lovell, Maine. His sister-in-law, Elaine Drew, suggested that, with his educational background, he should take the position of Director of the Stone Environmental School of New England, in Madison, N.H. He directed an amazing staff of instructors, designing Environmental Science programs for elementary students. Stone taught students to appreciate and care for the environment. His school also organized adventure trips for Lake Region High School students to the southwest and the northwest United States, and bird watching and hiking expeditions to Trinidad and Tobago.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Linda; his loving daughter, Nicole and her partner, Andrew (Harrison); his loving son, Bryan and his partner, Cheryl (Windham); four loving grandchildren, Braycen (11), Kody (six), Sierra (12) and Nessa (20); Braycen’s mom, Ashley (Windham). He is also survived by six siblings and their spouses: Kathleen and John Welch (Sudbury, Mass.); Paula and Joe Fay (who sail the seas on the “Sequel to” and Boiling Springs, Pa.); Paul and Connie Freese (Folsom, Calif.); Nancy Fitzgerald (Virginia Beach, Va.); Carolyn Freese (Millis, Mass.); Kimberley and Peter Latosek (Millis, Mass.); 24 nieces and nephews (around the country), and a multitude of Shea cousins! He was predeceased by his parents, and his precious godson, Kevin Welch.

Family and friends are invited to call from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at the Chandler Funeral Home, 8 Elm St., Bridgton. A Mass of Christian will be celebrated at 11 a.m., at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main St., Fryeburg, Maine. Interment will follow at the Number 4 cemetery in Lovell. Condolences and tributes may be shared at www.chandlerfunerals.com