Gabriel Gailen Trautman

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our beloved son, Gabriel (Gabe) Gailen Trautman, on July 23, 2025.

A charming, beautiful, and gifted artist, Gabe was known for his wit, his megawatt smile, and his facility for making others feel valued. He loved to talk, carrying on conversations with his family and friends for hours on end. 

Gabe was a graduate of the University of Vermont (2017), Waynflete School (2013), and Breakwater School. 

A man of many talents, he worked as a product photographer for many of the cannabis growers and retailers in Maine, taking stunningly detailed photos of plants and products and creating posters and graphics for events and packaging. Other subjects he loved to photograph were nature, streetlife, and classic cars. He had been creating music for a long time and had recently begun working as a DJ. He loved trying to expand the boundaries of the craft.

Gabe was a funny, creative, and caring man. He loved dogs, especially his childhood best friend “Lewis”, and his life companion “Fin”.  Born in Lewisville, Texas, he was adopted at three months by his loving parents. They brought him to their home in Brooklyn, NY, where they lived until 1998, when the happy family moved to Portland, Maine. Gabe had an idyllic childhood, traveling often with his parents when their work took them to far-flung places, including Alaska, Japan, France, and Italy. He saw much of the US and traveled for a time with the Big Apple Circus. Spending his junior year of high school in Rennes, France, he became fluent in French and a committed Francophile.  

Gabe is survived by his parents, Judy Gailen and Michael Trautman, as well as an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins, a devoted family of friends, and his dog Fin. 

When you are in pain, tell someone. 

When you are overwhelmed, ask for help. 

When someone offers help or understanding, accept it without shame. 

Be human. Be humble. Be kind. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, we urge you to donate to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland:  https://arlgp.org/donate/make-a-donation/  or 988Lifeline:https://988lifeline.org/donate/