Orono – Henry Kelsey Woodbrey passed away on August 2nd 2021 at his home in Dirigo Pines surrounded by his family at the age of 89. He was born in the family home at Sebago Lake, Maine on March 10, 1932. Henry was the son of Victor A. and Marjorie McIntire Woodbrey. He was the eighth of eleven children.
He graduated as Valedictorian of his class at Standish High School, class of 1949. He continued his education at the University of Maine at Orono, an institution that he would hold close to his heart for the rest of his life. He received a B.S degree in Zoology in 1953. He was a member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity. He played basketball his freshman year and baseball for four years and he belonged to the “Under Graduate” M. Club. Baseball remained a passion for the rest of his life. He was in the Army ROTC program for four years and received a commission as 2nd Lt. in the U.S Army Infantry upon graduation. It was at UMaine that he met his future wife, Dawn Miller, whom he married in 1953.
He served in the U.S. Army for two years and attained the rank of 1st Lt. He left the army in 1955 to attend Tufts Dental School in Boston, MA. He graduated in 1959 from Tufts with a D.M.D. degree. He opened his first practice in Blue Hill, Maine. He practiced in Blue Hill from 1959 until 1967. While in Blue Hill he was President of the Chamber of Commerce, Master of Ira Berry Masonic Lodge and served on the town budget committee. He sang in the choir of the Blue Hill Congregational Church and was chairman of the fund raising committee to build an addition to the church. He helped organize the Down East Dental Society of Hancock and Washington counties, and served as President. He organized and operated a free fluoride treatment and dental examination program at the Blue Hill Consolidated School and coached Pony League baseball. He organized the first dental department at the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital and had it approved.
Dr. Woodbrey moved his dental practice to Orono in 1967 and practiced there until his retirement in 1999. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for 25 years and auctioneered for the Kiwanis, the Maine Dental Society and the A.F.S.auctions for over thirty-five years. He was a former staff member at Eastern Maine Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was a clinical instructor at Bangor Community College and had an active program with the University of Maine pre-dental students to observe dentistry in his office, as well as an externship program for assistants and hygienists from Bangor Community College. He was President of the Penobscot Valley Dental Society. He served on the Executive Council of the Maine Dental Association and as President of the Maine Dental Association. He was a delegate to the American Dental Convention and served on the Reference Committee On Rules and Procedures. He was the MDA State Chairman for the American Fund For Dental Health. He was MDA Chairman of the Peer Review Council and helped write the Peer Review Handbook. He was a member of the Maine Dental Political Action Committee. As Auction Chairman for the MDA he raised money for many charities. He was a charter member of the Academy of Sport’s Dentistry and was inducted as a Fellow into the prestigious American College of Dentists, one of his greatest honors. He fully enjoyed his practice of dentistry, his patients, his staff, and the young people whom he mentored. He is well remembered by the many patients who benefited from his skill and knowledge.
He was dedicated to the University of Maine. He made the mouth pieces for football, hockey and other athletic programs at the University of Maine for 30 years. He served as President of the Graduate “M” Club. He was on the committee that raised money for the first Athletic Scholarships at the University and established the Edward F. Woodbrey Memorial Baseball Scholarship, honoring his brother. He raised money for new equipment for the Dental Hygiene School as well as a substantial sum for an endowment. He served two terms on the Board of Director’s of the General Alumni Association and on the President’s Development Council, and one term on the President’s Athletic Advisory Council. As Class Agent, he raised $100,000 for the new Buchanan Alumni House. In 1993 he was honored for his service to the University when he received the Black Bear Award from the General Alumni Association at the University. In 2009 he received the Pine Tree Emblem Service Award for outstanding service to the University. His most treasured award was the Fogler Legacy Award honoring three generations of Woodbrey’s attending the University of Maine. Seventy five family members were in attendance.
In addition to his busy career and his family, he enjoyed the outdoors – hunting, fishing and golfing. His hands were always busy with one project or another; refinishing furniture and using his creative skills to fix anything. He loved repairing items and working with wood on projects for his children and grandchildren. He was never too busy to watch or listen to a Maine baseball or hockey game and never gave up on the Red Sox. He would sometimes have several games going at one time! His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave him the utmost pleasure.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers: Cecil, Edward, Leonard, James and Herbert and his sisters, Mary Woodbrey, Mabelle Hughes, Elizabeth Stuart and Eva LeKachman. He was also predeceased by a granddaughter, Sarah Dawn Hibler.
He is survived by his wife, Dawn, of 68 years whom he loved dearly and three children: son Kevin, wife Vicki and their children, Kyle and Erik of Raymond, daughter Kimberly Hibler of Napa Idaho and son David and wife Heidi of Bangor and their children, Heather Dawn Burgess and Ben Woodbrey. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Landon and Braden Hibler, Hunter and Ivy Burgess and Ava Dawn Snow. He is also survived by his brother Vic Woodbrey and his wife Marie.
From his children – Dad, if our purpose on this earth is to love and be steadfast to, those we commit to, those we give life to and those we call family, you have served your purpose above and beyond. We rejoice today in knowing that you have been reunited with all of your brothers and sisters (the Woodbrey clan) and our dear Sarah. We know that you are now experiencing love beyond anything we can conceive of, as we fulfill our time here on earth. You did your work well. Never a day went by that you didn’t serve our beautiful mother, the one you made your bride 68 years ago. Through your love to her and dedication to her, you served our family with every breath you took, every tooth you filled, every chore and project you completed. Somehow we picture you sliding into Home having used every bit of life you were given – your last Home Run and it was an amazing one! Thank you for you love and for your service to us. We love you and will miss you!
The family would like to thank the caregivers of Kindred Hospice for their compassionate care in his final days.
Those who wish may contribute to the University of Maine Alumni Association, P.O. Box 550, Orono, Maine 04473. Due to the pandemic, there will not be a service at this time.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Henry Woodbrey, please visit our flower store.
He graduated as Valedictorian of his class at Standish High School, class of 1949. He continued his education at the University of Maine at Orono, an institution that he would hold close to his heart for the rest of his life. He received a B.S degree in Zoology in 1953. He was a member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity. He played basketball his freshman year and baseball for four years and he belonged to the “Under Graduate” M. Club. Baseball remained a passion for the rest of his life. He was in the Army ROTC program for four years and received a commission as 2nd Lt. in the U.S Army Infantry upon graduation. It was at UMaine that he met his future wife, Dawn Miller, whom he married in 1953.
He served in the U.S. Army for two years and attained the rank of 1st Lt. He left the army in 1955 to attend Tufts Dental School in Boston, MA. He graduated in 1959 from Tufts with a D.M.D. degree. He opened his first practice in Blue Hill, Maine. He practiced in Blue Hill from 1959 until 1967. While in Blue Hill he was President of the Chamber of Commerce, Master of Ira Berry Masonic Lodge and served on the town budget committee. He sang in the choir of the Blue Hill Congregational Church and was chairman of the fund raising committee to build an addition to the church. He helped organize the Down East Dental Society of Hancock and Washington counties, and served as President. He organized and operated a free fluoride treatment and dental examination program at the Blue Hill Consolidated School and coached Pony League baseball. He organized the first dental department at the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital and had it approved.
Dr. Woodbrey moved his dental practice to Orono in 1967 and practiced there until his retirement in 1999. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for 25 years and auctioneered for the Kiwanis, the Maine Dental Society and the A.F.S.auctions for over thirty-five years. He was a former staff member at Eastern Maine Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was a clinical instructor at Bangor Community College and had an active program with the University of Maine pre-dental students to observe dentistry in his office, as well as an externship program for assistants and hygienists from Bangor Community College. He was President of the Penobscot Valley Dental Society. He served on the Executive Council of the Maine Dental Association and as President of the Maine Dental Association. He was a delegate to the American Dental Convention and served on the Reference Committee On Rules and Procedures. He was the MDA State Chairman for the American Fund For Dental Health. He was MDA Chairman of the Peer Review Council and helped write the Peer Review Handbook. He was a member of the Maine Dental Political Action Committee. As Auction Chairman for the MDA he raised money for many charities. He was a charter member of the Academy of Sport’s Dentistry and was inducted as a Fellow into the prestigious American College of Dentists, one of his greatest honors. He fully enjoyed his practice of dentistry, his patients, his staff, and the young people whom he mentored. He is well remembered by the many patients who benefited from his skill and knowledge.
He was dedicated to the University of Maine. He made the mouth pieces for football, hockey and other athletic programs at the University of Maine for 30 years. He served as President of the Graduate “M” Club. He was on the committee that raised money for the first Athletic Scholarships at the University and established the Edward F. Woodbrey Memorial Baseball Scholarship, honoring his brother. He raised money for new equipment for the Dental Hygiene School as well as a substantial sum for an endowment. He served two terms on the Board of Director’s of the General Alumni Association and on the President’s Development Council, and one term on the President’s Athletic Advisory Council. As Class Agent, he raised $100,000 for the new Buchanan Alumni House. In 1993 he was honored for his service to the University when he received the Black Bear Award from the General Alumni Association at the University. In 2009 he received the Pine Tree Emblem Service Award for outstanding service to the University. His most treasured award was the Fogler Legacy Award honoring three generations of Woodbrey’s attending the University of Maine. Seventy five family members were in attendance.
In addition to his busy career and his family, he enjoyed the outdoors – hunting, fishing and golfing. His hands were always busy with one project or another; refinishing furniture and using his creative skills to fix anything. He loved repairing items and working with wood on projects for his children and grandchildren. He was never too busy to watch or listen to a Maine baseball or hockey game and never gave up on the Red Sox. He would sometimes have several games going at one time! His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave him the utmost pleasure.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers: Cecil, Edward, Leonard, James and Herbert and his sisters, Mary Woodbrey, Mabelle Hughes, Elizabeth Stuart and Eva LeKachman. He was also predeceased by a granddaughter, Sarah Dawn Hibler.
He is survived by his wife, Dawn, of 68 years whom he loved dearly and three children: son Kevin, wife Vicki and their children, Kyle and Erik of Raymond, daughter Kimberly Hibler of Napa Idaho and son David and wife Heidi of Bangor and their children, Heather Dawn Burgess and Ben Woodbrey. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Landon and Braden Hibler, Hunter and Ivy Burgess and Ava Dawn Snow. He is also survived by his brother Vic Woodbrey and his wife Marie.
From his children – Dad, if our purpose on this earth is to love and be steadfast to, those we commit to, those we give life to and those we call family, you have served your purpose above and beyond. We rejoice today in knowing that you have been reunited with all of your brothers and sisters (the Woodbrey clan) and our dear Sarah. We know that you are now experiencing love beyond anything we can conceive of, as we fulfill our time here on earth. You did your work well. Never a day went by that you didn’t serve our beautiful mother, the one you made your bride 68 years ago. Through your love to her and dedication to her, you served our family with every breath you took, every tooth you filled, every chore and project you completed. Somehow we picture you sliding into Home having used every bit of life you were given – your last Home Run and it was an amazing one! Thank you for you love and for your service to us. We love you and will miss you!
The family would like to thank the caregivers of Kindred Hospice for their compassionate care in his final days.
Those who wish may contribute to the University of Maine Alumni Association, P.O. Box 550, Orono, Maine 04473. Due to the pandemic, there will not be a service at this time.
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