AUGUSTA – After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Roland David Jowdry Jr., 80, a dedicated husband and father, left us on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. With an impressive record in public service, David had countless friends and gave so many people lasting memories with his keen sense of humor, wit and intelligence while successfully tackling any task thrown his way.

David was born in East Millinocket on July 18, 1942 to Roland David Jowdry, Sr. and Ruth Jowdry, with his sister, Jane (deceased) and brother, Larry. His love for sports began at a young age while playing baseball and basketball. He lettered in both sports at Schenck High School in East Millinocket. As the starting center, he led the basketball team to a one loss regular season record his senior year. He went on to play college basketball at Ricker College and semi-pro basketball for the Pills in Millinocket.

David held various positions in city government after graduating from the University of Southern Maine in 1970. He served as the Parks and Recreation Director in Millinocket prior to accepting the same role in Augusta four years later. Augusta is where he and his wife, Carol, set their roots and raised their four children.

During his time as the Parks and Rec Director in Augusta, he led the festivities, carnival and parade every summer during the annual Whatever Week Festival in July. He played a major role in the commissioning of the USS Augusta, a fast attack nuclear submarine that took the city’s namesake and was commissioned in 1986. He forged lifelong friendships with many of the officers on the submarine and had the opportunity to do a ride along on a short training mission sailing between Groton, Conn. and Kittery.

David’s professional role was eventually expanded to the Director of Community Services for Augusta. During this time, David oversaw the construction of Cony High School’s Alumni Field (now Fuller’s Field) to fulfill a promise to his son that he would be able to play under the lights on his home field his senior year in fall of 1992.

He was twice asked to step in as the interim City Manager of Augusta while the city was searching for a permanent replacement. A job he tolerated but never had any interest in the role full time. He was also asked to serve as the interim Director of the Augusta Civic Center twice, a role that he truly enjoyed and decided to make it a full-time position for the last 10 years of his career.

In 1998, while David was serving double duty as the Director of the Civic Center and Interim City Manager, Maine was hit with an ice storm that caused massive power outages throughout state for many days in freezing temperatures. The civic center was opened as a shelter while volunteer teams were sent out to find and bring back citizens who were stuck in freezing homes without power. In addition, during his tenure at the Augusta Civic Center, David oversaw a complete renovation of the building and brought Pearl Jam to Augusta during their infamous boycott of Ticketmaster.

In 1988, David was recognized by the Calumet Club as the Citizen of the Year and nominated as a honorary member of the club. His resume contains a long list of association involvement and volunteer work which includes New England Region National Parks Association, Maine Special Olympics, Red Cross, Kiwanis Club, Elks Club, Augusta Country Club member, Central Maine Seniors Golf Association, coach of youth baseball and travel hockey.

Outside of watching his children play sports, David’s hobbies included playing lots of golf, flew a Beechcraft airplane for some time, enjoyed military history, genealogy and was a whiz at Jeopardy.

Upon his retirement from the Director of the Augusta Civic Center, David and Carol relocated to The Villages in Florida where they built a beautiful home and could play golf together year-round. When he was not playing golf, he could be found driving “one” of his golf carts or his 1961 TR3 that he bought used in 1962. He and Carol would spend the better part of the next 20 years together traveling back and forth from Florida to Maine to spend time with their children and grandchildren.

David is survived by his wife Carol of 55 years; three daughters, Laura Berthiaume and her husband, Richard, Katherine Jowdry and Melissa Weisheit and her husband, John, his son, Michael Jowdry and his wife, Andrea; grandchildren Brittany Berthiaume and her partner, Sean, Khyrstan Freeman and her husband, Matt, Kyleigh Ross and her husband, Josh, Dakota Wilson, Baili, Maya and Kamden Weisheit, and Harper and Rowan Jowdry; great-grandchildren Nicholas and Vera Ross, Emma and Lincoln Freeman, Avery Wilson and Bryson Griffiths; a brother, Larry Jowdry and his wife, Norma; and numerous nieces and nephews.

David’s funeral will be held on Monday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. at South Parish Congregational Church, 9 Church St., Augusta. Burial and committal prayers will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Winthrop St., Augusta.

Immediately following the burial, there will be a celebration of David’s life at the Augusta Civic Center.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, David asked that donations be made to the

Maine Special Olympics,

125 John Roberts Rd.

Unit 19,

South Portland, ME 04106

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