David Mason

FRYEBURG — David W. Mason, 100, of Fryeburg, passed away on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017.

Born in New York City in 1917, he was the son of Appleton A. and Louise G. Mason. He graduated from Columbia College in l939, where he was captain of the tennis team. He received his MA from Columbia Teachers College and taught at the Punahou School in Hawaii, and the Riverdale Country Day School, Fairfield and Greenwich Country Day Schools in Conn.

He served in the American Field Service as an ambulance driver attached to the British Eighth Army in North Africa during World War II.

He was owner/director of Camp Agawam in Raymond, and, along with his wife, Peg, ran the camp for 30 years. He started the Main Idea program at Agawam in 1971 which, for the past 46 years, still gives over 100 boys a free week of camping activities each summer. He and Peg also owned and operated Agawam Kezar Ski Camp for 40 years in Center Lovell. He received the prestigious Halsey Gulick award by the Maine Youth Camping Association in 2005 for his contribution to camping.

Dave and his wife have been members of the Lovell United Church of Christ for 62 years, and he served as a trustee. He was a former school board member, past president of the Lovell Conservation Commission, past president of Lovell Youthways and Lovell Recreation. He spearheaded the drive to get tennis courts in Lovell and, in 1985, the annual tennis tournament was started which was, and is still, named the “Dave Mason Kezar Lake Tennis Tournament.”

He coached boys’ and girls' basketball and baseball teams in Lovell for 15 years, and also started the Jr. Ski program. The Lovell Town Report was dedicated to him in 1988 for his many years of service to the youth of Lovell. He was parade chairman of Lovell Old Home Days for many years. It was his idea to have a Veterans Honor Roll in Lovell. He was the fundraising chairman for the Center Lovell Firehouse, the Lovell Athletic Field and the Lovell UCC parsonage.

The Fryeburg Academy Alumni Association honored Dave as outstanding non-alumni in 2013. He was also selected into the 2017 Fryeburg Academy Hall of Excellence. Dave and Peg were strong supporters of many Academy sporting events.

He composed and sang over 50 “Davy Crockett” ballads to friends at anniversaries, birthdays and retirements to the delight of everyone.

He was predeceased by a son, David Jr.; and brothers, Appleton and George. He is survived by his wife, Peg of 62 years; daughter Barbara and her husband Neil of Andover, Mass.; son Peter and wife Lynne of Canton, Conn., son James and his wife, Diane of Bristol, England; granddaughters Katie, Marianne, Felicity, Louise and Rachel; and great-granddaughter Sophia.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Lovell United Church of Christ, located at 1174 Main Street, Lovell, at 2:30 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 24. Following the service, a reception will be held at Pleasant Point Inn, located at 149 Pleasant Point Road, Center Lovell, from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, if so desired, contributions to his memory may be made to one of the following organizations, Camp Agawam, 54 Agawam Rd., Raymond, ME 04071; or online at www.campagawam.org