Claude Westfall

Claude Z. Westfall, Orono, Maine, passed away on Nov 11, 2022 in Passadumkeag surrounded by his loving family. Claude was predeceased by his loving wife Rosemae of 63 years in 2012. He was born in Washington, PA, May 6, 1928, the son of Harold R. and Fairie (Fisher) Westfall (both deceased). Claude was raised in Clarksburg, WV and after graduating from high school in 1946, he served in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1946-48 and married Rosemae in 1948. A 1952 graduate of West Virginia University, he completed graduate work at the University of Maine in 1954. Claude taught in the School of Engineering Technology at the University of Maine for 36 ½ years and retired in 1990 as Professor Emeritus General Engineering. In October 2011, Claude was honored as a distinguished emeritus professor at the College of Engineering James and Maureen Gorman Emeriti Faculty Brunch. He published several textbooks involving creative engineering graphic design problems and cartography. As leader in a fund raising project he took great pride in the establishment of a Computer Aided Design Laboratory in 1986. He was an active member of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). His principal activities included Annual Conference Exhibits Chairman, 1964; Exhibits Committee, 1965-66; Campus Activity Coordinator, 1965-70 and 1974-75; and Council for Professional and Technical Education, 1973-75. He was active in Professional Interest Council III and served as Vice Chairman 1975-77. Claude was involved in numerous committee’s of the Engineering Design Graphics Division and served as secretary, 1971-72 and Chairman of the Division in 1974-75. In 1986 he received the Engineering Design Graphics Division, ASEE Distinguished Service Award.

Professor Westfall was active in promoting scholarship, having served nationally as Phi Kappa Phi’s representative to the Association of College Honor Societies, 1968-72; the Phi Kappa Phi Board of Directors. 1969-77 and the Phi Kappa Phi Foundation Board of Trustees, 1969-77. From 1969-71 he served the society as its Vice-President for Public Relations and was elected its national Vice-President, 1971-77. In 1985 he received the society’s national award for service and contributions.

Claude was involved with the Orono Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1956-57; and the YMCA Board of Directors, 1958-75. For several years, he was a volunteer of the Orono Health Association to provide rides to medical appointments for local residents.

Claude will be remembered for his passionate love of the outdoors and the many years that were spend with his sons to camp, hike, fish and hunt. He was a proud father, a loving grandfather and a caring friend. His interest in all aspects of Atlantic salmon angling and its restoration was well known throughout the State. He was an active member of the Veazie Salmon Club and served as President in 1985-86. In 1992 he was the recipient of the club’s Normand Bacon Sportsman Award. He worked on numerous committee’s to help restore Atlantic salmon to the Penobscot River that included Friends of the River, the Penobscot River Coalition and the Maine Council, Atlantic Salmon Federation ( a founding member in 1983). His interest and time was devoted to a new non-profit and educationl Maine Atlantic Salmon Museum at the Penobscot Salmon Club site in Brewer to be built. Claude served as the Board of Directors first president, 2014-15.

Claude enjoyed 17 of his retirement years by spending winters in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and summers in Orono with his loving wife, family and friends. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, fishing for salmon in Alaska, construction/ wood working, computers, photography and tending his homes and yards in Mission, TX and Orono, ME. He was a member of the Orono Church of Universal Fellowship and had many caring and supportive friends and the family deeply appreciates their thoughts and prayers. Claude enjoyed his many friends and meals at the Parker Dining room, Orono. He spent many days and trips to photograph the outdoors and present programs to various groups.

Surviving are two sons, Scott A. Westfall and his wife Sarita of Sedgewick; Stuart A. Westfall and his wife Deanna of Passadumkeag; two grandchildren, Jennifer Anderson and her husband Ben of California, MD and Stephanie Daigle and her husband Mark of Bangor; five great-grandchildren; one brother and sister Harold D. Westfall of Clarksburg, WV and Joanne Tetrick of Bridgeport, WV; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Relatives and friends are welcome to visit 5pm to 7 pm Friday, December 2, 2022 at Brookings- Smith 133 Center St. Bangor. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3rd at the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St., Orono with pastor Malcolm Himschoot officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share in conversation and refreshments at the church after the service. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, 383 US Rt. One #2C, Scarborough, ME. 04074; or the Northern Light Health Foundation Heart Fund, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME. 04402-0931 ; or the Lafayette Family Cancer Center, C/O Northern Light Health Foundation, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME. 04402-0931.
Those wishing to join the service via livestream please call the Church of Universal Fellowship and visit
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850090689?pwd=Y21ZZ1k5RHQwOStWQWoxUmpjVDV3UT09 .
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.