Benjamin Isaac Durgin
May 4, 1986 ~ October 29, 2023
Resided in:
Casco, Maine
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Benjamin I. Durgin, who left us on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at the age of 37, at Bridgton Hospital following a brief illness. Benjamin was born in Sanford, Maine, on May 4, 1986, to his late father, Karl F. Durgin, and his mother, Vivian R. Carpentier. He leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and joy that touched the lives of many.
Benjamin's journey began in Sanford, where he attended local schools and graduated from Sanford High School in 2004. After completing high school, he pursued his passion for culinary arts by attending Le Condon Bleu Culinary School in Georgia. Throughout his working life, Benjamin held various jobs including employment as a vendor for Thibodeau's Ice Cream, working as a barista, and most recently, working as a flagger for a traffic control company.
Benjamin's interests were as diverse as his character. He had a deep love for cooking, finding joy in the art of preparing and sharing delicious meals. He was an avid movie enthusiast, with a particular fondness for horror films. He also had a deep love for reading and collecting comic books. However, his true passion lay in his unwavering dedication to children. Benjamin believed in the importance of hearing and acknowledging their feelings, always holding a special place in his heart for the youngest members of our community.
In his leisure time, Benjamin delighted in playing board games, sharing laughter and creating cherished memories with those around him. His friends and family will forever remember him as a beacon of happiness and positivity. His goofy and fun-loving nature, along with his remarkable sensitivity and empathy for others, endeared him to all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Benjamin is preceded in death by his father, Karl F. Durgin, and his spirit lives on in the hearts of those he leaves behind. He is survived by his loving mother, Vivian Carpentier of Alfred, his beloved daughter, Lyric Jackson, Lyric's mother, Stephanie Heal, and the special children in his life, Lyric's sisters, Moselle and Cascade, all of Casco. He is also survived by his two brothers, Steven Carpentier, his wife, Jessica and their daughter Elizebeth, of Lisbon Falls, and Andrew Durgin and his partner, Jessica Gillette, of Sanford. Additionally, Benjamin is survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends who were fortunate to have shared in his life.
To celebrate and honor Benjamin's life, a memorial luncheon will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 on Friday, November 10th, at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home located at 580 Main Street in Springvale. Please join us in remembering and celebrating the remarkable person he was.
Benjamin's kindness, warmth, and the happiness he shared with those around him will be sorely missed, but his memory will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in his honor to a charity supporting children, ensuring that Benjamin's legacy of caring for and empowering the youngest members of our community continues to shine brightly.
Arrangements for the service are under the compassionate direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service in Sanford-Springvale.
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Worked with Ben making podcasts
Our avid debate about whether or not placing second in a competition was ‘winning’.
Our terrible shifts at Reebok.
His smile and laugh when caught in his own lies playing Coup and Skulls.
Ben was truly one of a kind, a big gruff looking guy with a heart of gold, ill always miss you my friend
I’m so very sorry Vivian to hear of your son’s passing! Our deepest condolences to you and your family! God Bless you All!
Rip Ben till we all met again! 🙏
A gentle soul
Taught me that life should never be taken too seriously. Enjoy it while you can.
His charming smile and ability to turn a frown upsidedown.
Highschool friends. He always had a smile and brought life wherever he was.
A good man, gone too early.
Smart, funny, brave, dedicated, warm, and loving.
Vivian and family,
So terribly sorry for your loss of your dear son, Ben. You are in our prayers. May God give you strength and grace through this difficult time.
I’m so thankful I needed a place to live and you let me stay without hardly knowing me. It changed my life for the better. I hope you’re eating all the alfredo, watching Twilight on repeat and petting hayburners. Save a spot for me at Space Camp.
Ben was a warm, funny, kind and generous friend and an even better father. He was Lyric’s safe space and supportive ear; they had inside jokes together and a friendship most children do not find in their parents so young.
A few little things I remember about Ben: he liked the window cracked when he drove (even if the heat was on), he could make a cheesecake to satisfy any dairy-tolerating person around, and he had a deadpan joke lined up for every occasion (I bet if he had a voice at his service, he’d be cracking jokes there as well). I can say with confidence that Ben will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.
He is the father of my first grandchild and was like a son-in-law to us. I’ve never known such a doting daddy as he was with his little girl, Lyric. They were 2 peas in a pod and loved each other beyond measure. ♥️
Always had some great conversations with Ben. Movies, music, comics, Magic the Gathering, board games, beer. Gone far too soon.
Miss you so much Ben!
I last saw Ben at a work meeting on October 12th. At the conclusion of the meeting, he had asked “Marlene, are you buying drinks”.
“I sure am”, Ben, I said. I only WISH he WOULD have joined me at the bar. RIP, Ben and cheers to you!
Ben was an employee of New England Traffic Control Services since May of 2020. His kind and lighthearted ways always kept us positive. He was also a super funny guy, always making jokes and making other employees feel comfortable and accepted.
Our deepest condolences are extended to the friends and family of Ben.
I am sad to learn of Ben’s passing. I remember him as happy, cool kid working for me in Kittery.
Ben was my student in Media Communications 1 & 2 at Sanford Regional Vocational Center, as it was called then. I’ll always remember him as a nonconformist and independent thinker with a deep appreciation for art and music. He’d often bring in new music or graphic novels and say, “Ms Turner, you have to check this out.” He laughed a lot and liked to make others laugh. A true original, he brought a fun energy to the group and we enjoyed being around him. My sincere condolences to his friends and family.
Ben was truly a great guy; he had a great sense of humor, and fantastic smile and laugh that were always contagious. nd man, did he love Lyric SO MUCH, he was so proud to be her dad. He will be greatly missed.
Going to copy Brock, but Ben always made them much better
Ben was one of my best friends when we were at Sanford Junior and High School, we had even played little league baseball with his Dad as our coach when we were kids.
Ben Durgin is the funniest person I’ve ever met in my life and we’ve laughed until we’ve fallen down. There are countless memories and shenanigans to list here, but I’m sure you’ll hear about them when sharing memories. Ben is a pivotal influence in my life and has helped me understand and grow into passions such as music and comics (although no where near his passion). Ben will never be forgotten by the people who’ve been privileged to be around him. I will always miss you, Ben. The next time I watch Clerks: The Animated Series, I know you will be watching with me. Thank you for everything.
We played little league baseball together with his Dad as our coach
Ben and I fell out of touch in recent years, but he was a staple of my friend group during a key time in my life. I count many fine memories shared with him.
In one such memory, he, Jimmy Stevens, and I were driving to Fosters in York for lobster, but were so distracted by conversation that we didn’t realize Ben was driving the wrong way on the I-95 for over an hour. When we finally made it there the meal was worth it. The fluke of mistiming made us want to make more of the day, which led us to Long Sands Beach. There, in the rain, a single old man was wandering the coastline playing bagpipes. We observed in silence, and all agreed that were it not for Ben’s driving we would have missed out on the transcendent moment.
In another memory, Ben, his brother Andrew, Jimmy, and I had the idea to play an impromptu game of trivial pursuit in the middle of the road on a side street in Sanford at 2 AM, our game benefitting from the orange glow of the streetlights. We happened to have a dozen donuts from Dunks with us, so when a well-meaning citizen had the cops come out to see what we were up to, we were equipped to get out of trouble with ease. Everyone appreciates being offered a donut—especially cops. We received a good laugh for our effort.
More recently, though still too long ago, I was able to connect with Ben at a lakeside gathering of friends, and then again some years later in support of his beloved brother, Andy.
What I’ll remember most is Ben’s warmth, generosity, and full-hearted humor. He once hugged me so hard I heard my back crack in at least four different places, and his laughs were legendary. He put his entire being into them. Few things are more beautiful than a person abandoning themselves to good humor, and Ben could do it better than anyone else.
Ben was such a great guy, I’m so heartbroken to learn of his passing. I run a non-profit organization called Right Brain Club. It’s a free club for school aged youth. Ben very generously donated 1500 of his own comics, to my club. The kids have really enjoyed the comic books and will for years to come. I’ve known Ben since he was in High School. He always made time to chat when we ran into each other. I will miss his smile and his jovial personality. 💙💔💙