Brian C. Thayer

Brian C. Thayer, 57, of Cumberland, died unexpectedly on April 9 due to natural causes.He was born in Sanford on October 6, 1948, a son of George S. and Natalie (Valentine) Thayer. He attended Sanford schools and was a graduate of Sanford High School and the University of Maine at Orono.He worked for many years in the newspaper business. He began as a reporter with the Bangor Daily News. He served as the publisher for the (then) Biddeford Journal, general manager of the New Haven (CT) Register, general manager of the Kennebec Journal and then President of Central Maine Newspapers. For the past seven years, he has served as the President and C.E.O. of the Lavalley Lumber Companies.Brian was a competitive, charismatic personality in possession of a keen sense of humor. Family members recalled that although he would always play by the rules, he didn't like to lose. He was a sports enthusiast both as a participant and as a spectator. After his family, his greatest love was the outdoors. He was an avid fly fisherman and bird hunter sharing those interests with his best friends John Ewing, Wendell Weyland, John Marsh and Richard Molyneux. He traveled worldwide, and whether on business, pleasure or even on his honeymoon, his fly rod was always at hand.He served on the board of trustees for the Maine Community College system and was incoming president of the Maine Lumbermen's Association.Brian's father predeceased him.Survivors include his wife of over 18 years, Nancy (Allen) Thayer of Cumberland, 5 children, Robin Thayer of Richmond, Mark Thayer and his wife Beatriz, Mercedes Thayer, Oliver Thayer, all of Saco, Erik Thayer of Cumberland, his mother, Natalie (Nan) Ricci of Kennebunk, sister Cindy Milligan, her husband Jim and their daughter Sarah of Sanford, brother Alden Thayer, his wife Deb and their sons Andrew, Greg and Ben of Gorham, sister Julie Welch, her husband Mike and their daughter Bree of Boca Raton, FL, and by 3 great brothers-in-law, Greg, Bruce and Rik. A memorial service will be conducted on Thursday at 11 AM at the Curtis Lake Christian Church with the Rev. Jim McAtee and the Rev. Carleton Gunn officiating. A reception will immediately follow in the multi-purpose room of the church. Arrangements are through the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale.Those planning of an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Maine Wilderness Watershed Trust, P. O. Box 5660, Augusta, ME 04332 or the American Heart Association, 343 Gorham Road, So. Portland, ME 04106. To send the family a message of condolence online, please use the Condolences tab at left.