Samuel Willets Meyer

Freeport, ME__ Samuel Willets "Tim" Meyer, Jr. 70 of Freeport, died November 22, 2023 at home. Samuel Willets “Tim” Meyer Jr. was born in New York City on September 12, 1953. He was the son of and predeceased by Samuel Willets Meyer and Lucie Clark Taft, as well as step-father Henry Bard. He was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Walbridge S. Taft and Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Meyer and great great nephew of President William Howard Taft. Tim grew up in Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY where he went to Green Vale School, followed by Rectory School in CT, then graduated from Brooks School in MA. Later, he received a degree in technology at SMCC. As a boy, Tim spent a lot of time at Beaver Dam, a local skating club, where he developed a life-long passion for ice hockey. Young Tim also enjoyed building forts, woodworking in shop class, go karting (he loved anything with an engine), boating with friends and relatives, going to Jones’ Beach and…torturing his sisters. When he was eleven, his parents took Tim and a friend on an incredible adventure, driving cross country in a VW van to the Madison Fork Ranch in West Yellowstone, MT where they stayed for a month. Tim talked about that trip enthusiastically throughout his life. Other summers, Tim and his sisters enjoyed freedom at “Gran’s” house in Watch Hill, RI. Tim often told stories about the special times he had there with cousins and friends riding bikes, days at the beach, and staying in “the cottage”. While at Brooks, Tim played football, hockey, and rowed crew on a team that raced at Henley-on-Thames in England. He developed an appreciation for interesting art and was drawn to artists such as M.C. Escher and Salvador Dali. Tim hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail, once coming home with a dog he named Chakra. He made lifelong friends at Brooks including his dear friend Nick, and he would later reconnect with them at reunions. After graduating from Brooks, Tim lived in the Boston area for several years before heading south to work on oil rigs off Louisiana. He then moved to Houston TX where he worked in skyscraper construction. After 7 years in Houston, he followed his two sisters to Portland, ME. In Portland, Tim worked for the U.S. Postal Service as an annex supervisor, was a carpenter for several construction companies, was a superintendent for Benchmark Construction, and spent the last 10 years as the property manager for Northland Enterprises. Tim thoroughly enjoyed working with the tight-knit group of terrific people at Northland. Tim met his wife Jeanne Joyce in 1990 and they began their life together, buying a house in Freeport where they raised their children, Kelsey and Willets. Tim spent his non-working hours supporting his children in all of their endeavors. He and Jeanne spent a great deal of time at sporting events which took them throughout New England. They made dear friends on sidelines, pool sides, and rink sides. Winter brought travel hockey games and tournaments with many happy memories of spending time with other parents and players. On the rare occasion when there was no hockey, the family spent cozy weekends with friends at Sunday River. Though Tim didn’t ski, he could be found happily stoking the fire, picking up kids or getting supplies while the rest of the group was skiing. That was Tim: always kind, considerate, helpful and always working on something. Tim had an appreciation for music with lyrics and sentiments that spoke to him, and whenever he found a good concert coming to town,he would round up a crew to attend. Maine summers found the family outdoors, camping at Winslow Park or Acadia, swimming and surfing at Pine Point and other beaches or lakes. When not beaching it, the family was very happy boating in Casco Bay. Rafting up with friends was a highlight of many sunny summer days. Tim’s dog, Casco, loved sitting on the bow of the boat sniffing all the sea smells, with Tim or Willets at the helm, and Jeanne enjoying the sun. Over the last three years, Tim and Jeanne extended their sun and boat time by spending their vacations in Florida. Tim was personable, thoughtful, kind, engaging and very devoted to his family. His greatest reward was enjoying the amazing relationships he had with his children, and he was very proud of them both. They each thrived with the strength and warmth of his unwavering, loving support. Tim also had a great lifelong bond with his sisters, something he always treasured. He valued and appreciated his relationship with his loving in-laws, Beverlene and the late Festus Joyce. Tim also loved animals and had dogs, cats and ferrets throughout his life. Tim is survived by Jeanne Joyce Meyer of Freeport, his wife and friend of 33 years, his daughter Kelsey Joyce Meyer and her partner Phillip Kopita, both of Cambridge, MA, his son Samuel W. “Willets” Meyer III, of Freeport, his sisters Taffy Eaton of Scarborough, ME and Lucie Meyer, of New Castle, DE, and his mother-in-law, Beverlene Joyce of Cumberland Foreside, ME. He leaves behind his dear friends the Landsbergen family with whom the Meyers spent so much time on the water, at the mountains, and on vacations. He also leaves behind many family members including cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, in-laws and so many other close friends—you know who you are…he loved and appreciated you. The family thanks the medical staff on the 7th floor of the CFT at Maine Medical Center for their care and support, as well as the staff at Maine Health Cancer Care in South Portland. There will be a service and Celebration of Life for Tim on Saturday, December 16th, at 11:00 a.m. at the South Freeport Congregational Church. Family and friends are encouraged to share a funny story, laugh, or sentiment about Tim. A reception will follow.