Benjamin Conant, of Topsham, died Aug. 5, 2013, following a short illness. Ben was born March 23, 1924, in Pembroke, the elder son of A. Benjamin and Katharine (Steele) Conant. As a child, he contracted rheumatic fever, interrupting his formal schooling but offering other opportunities for his education. He was tutored by his aunts, and attended the Arnold School and Eaglebrook School, and the family spent several winters in Key West. He graduated from Pembroke High School in the Class of 1941 and Oberlin College in 1945 with a degree in French and Spanish. Ben married Beverly Brooks in Pembroke on July 22, 1950 and they shared almost 60 years together before her death on Jan. 24, 2010. He was a loving husband and devoted caregiver, helping and supporting Bev during her 33 year battle with Parkinsons Disease. They resided in Pembroke until 1998, when they moved to Topsham, Maine. Ben had a quick mind and a fine wit, and friends and family could always count on him for a good pun and his ability to find humor in even the darkest situation. He demonstrated how to live well simply and with honesty. He was inspired by a quote from Ralph W. Sockman that represents to us his core values: The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority. Ben joined his fathers business, Aetna Pumps, Inc., as a salesman, working more than 40 years to help customers with water systems. He was active in service to his community, as a member of the East Pembroke Community Club and the Pembroke Lions Club, and in performance with the Pem-broke Players. He was an elected member of the Pembroke School Board 1960-1975, serving as chairman for several years and also representing Pembroke on the Silver Lake Regional School Board. At his home in Pembroke, he kept a large vegetable garden and enjoyed working around the property. In Maine, he was a member of the Highlands Residents Committee and helped develop gardening areas for residents. He is survived by his daughter Susan Cook and her husband James Cook of Waterville, and son Peter Conant and his wife Elisabeth Goodridge of Appleton; grandchildren Benjamin L. Conant of Peterborough, NH, and Rebecca K. Conant of New York City, and their mother Debbi Conant of Stevens Point, WI; and Emily F. Cook of Washington, D.C. and David M. Cook of Waterville, ME; and his brother David Conant and his wife Lynn of Denver, CO; his brothers-in-law and their wives Bud and Isabel Brooks of Dallas, TX, and Phil and Jane Brooks of Lyle, WA, as well as many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to the Burbank-Pembroke Memorial Educational Fund, c/o Elaine West, P.O. Box 9, Pembroke, MA 02359 or American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305.




Published in The Patriot Ledger on August 10, 2013 .