Michael David “Mike” Desmond

Published 4:58 pm Monday, December 23, 2019

Michael David “Mike” Desmond, 67, passed away Dec. 20, 2019, in Washington, after a brief battle with cancer.

He was born on Monday, Oct. 27, 1952, in Bath, Maine, the son of David Edward and Evelyn Marie (Willette) Desmond of High Street.

Mike attended local schools and graduated from Morse High School, Class of 1971, where he lettered in Cross Country and Track and Field. Throughout his life, he enjoyed participating and spectating in many sports and activities. His favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, won their first World Series in 86 years on his birthday in Game 4, in 2004. As a youth, he delivered newspapers for many years at the north end for the Bath Daily Times and later The Times Record.

From 1967 to 1971, he was employed at Sampson’s Supermarket in downtown Bath. Following graduation, he relocated to the Tampa Bay, Florida, area where he worked for Bell Telephone Systems of Pinellas Park. In 1972, he returned to Maine and was employed at the Sheraton Motor Inn/Bounty Tavern on Leeman Highway in Bath, where he served as general manager from 1977 to 1979 and then transferred to the Sheraton Resort & Tennis Club in St. Petersburg, Florida. In 1981, he began his first business on the Florida Suncoast, Pasadena Home & Garden, a lawnscape and home improvement service that he operated with his sons until relocating to Brunswick, Maine, in 1988. There, he started his second business, Maiden Maine Crafts, which he operated with his wife, manufacturing and selling handmade Maine-inspired items at shows and stores throughout New England.

From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, he was active in several arts and crafts organizations including Central Maine Arts & Crafts Guild, Society of Southern Maine Craftsmen, Stone Soup Artisans and United Maine Craftsmen; serving for many years on the Board of Directors and as show directors. At various times, he also enjoyed employment at the Tradewinds Sandpiper Resort of St. Pete Beach, Florida, LL Bean Manufacturing of Brunswick and Freeport, Maine, Excellent Commercial Cleaning of Topsham, Maine, and Ed Hamilton Enterprises and Liberty Management of Brunswick, Maine. In April 2002, he moved to Jacob Fork, North Carolina, to be closer to his family and established his third business, Hickory Handyman, which he operated with his sons and beloved dogs, Rocky, Benji and Big Papi. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2007, he married Shawn Marie Zellmer in Hickory, NC, where they made their home until retiring to Washington Park in 2015. They were members of the Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Washington. Mike will be most remembered as an entrepreneur and loving Husband, Father and Grandfather.

He is survived by his loving wife, Shawn, of Washington Park; three sons, Kelly Michael Desmond and wife Lori Ann, of Gorham, Maine; Devon David Desmond, of Norway, Maine, and David Michael Desmond, of Bath, Maine; a stepdaughter, Dr. Allyson Quinn Marie Ryan, of the Max Planck Institute in Dresden, Germany; his former wife, Patricia Katherine Desmond, and stepson, Lawrence “Slym” Myers, of Hickory; two sisters, Anne Marie Mosher and husband Ronald, of Bath, Maine, and Patricia Diane Brown and husband Mark, of Fairfield, Maine; four grandchildren, Hayden Michael and Grace Katherine Desmond, both of Gorham, Maine, and Lucas James and Madison Anne Desmond, both of Bath, Maine; as well as many extended family members and friends who will be greatly missed.

Mike requested donations be made in his memory to your local animal sanctuary or rescue mission by way of contributing, volunteering or adopting. Any of these would be most appreciated by Mike and his family. Please be kind to all animals.

Services are by Washington Funeral & Cremation, Hillside Chapel, Washington.