Dr. Malcolm W. Cass, OD, 92 STEPHENTOWN, N.Y. -- Dr. Malcolm W. Cass, OD, 92, died peacefully in his sleep on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, in Stephentown, N.Y., where he lived with son David and his family. He was predeceased by his parents, the Rev. Walter and Marie Cass; his sister Elaine Sargent; and his beloved wife of 64 years, Hildreth Edwards Hillie Cass. Dr. Cass was widely known within the community through his many years of service as a medical professional and as a musician. Outside of his work and his music, he was active in the community through his membership in numerous organizations. During the Second World War, he served his country in the Pacific as a Captain in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Dr. Cass was born to English immigrant parents on March 22, 1916, in Columbia Falls, in the former Methodist Episcopal parsonage, since destroyed by fire. His father's ministerial assignments took young Malcolm to parsonages in the Down East towns of West Pembroke, Milltown, Bucksport and Bar Harbor, as well as in Brownville Junction, Old Orchard Beach and South Portland. Many scenes from Malcolm's early years were captured through the photographic skills of his father, who passed on a keen interest in this art to his son. Under his mother's piano instruction from age five, Malcolm developed the musical talent that he had inherited from his parents, both fine musicians. His father's position in the Church provided him access to organ practice that by age 13 led to an avocation as church organist continuing without interruption until age 91. During Malcolm's years at Bar Harbor High School, he played the organ, piano and violin, while working outdoors during summers as a guide in the Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. After graduation in 1933, he attended Bowdoin College, from which he was graduated in 1937, Magna Cum Laude, and the only student elected to Phi Beta Kappa that year. During his Bowdoin years, Malcolm served as Chapel organist, a role he reprised many times for special services during later College reunions. In 1937, he moved from Brunswick to Philadelphia, where in 1940 he received his OD degree from Pennsylvania State College of Optometry. Returning to Portland, Dr. Cass entered optometric practice and in 1941 met his future wife, Hildreth Estelle Edwards, at choir rehearsal in Peoples Methodist Church, where his father was minister. They were married on July 25, 1943, by which time Malcolm had joined America's war effort, having completed basic training, photographic training, and officer's training. He was stationed at military bases first in the U.S., then on the island of Guam in the western Pacific. On his discharge Dr. Malcolm W. Cass, OD following the lengthy demobilization, he returned to his wife, son Malcolm, and a practice that had to be rebuilt almost from scratch, a situation confronting many veterans at the time. The post-war years brought family growth with the birth of son David, professional advancement and continuation of the musical career that had always been so vital to Malcolm. During these decades, he was President of the Maine State Board of Optometry, a 60-year member of the American Guild of Organists, a founding member of the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (FOKO), a frequent performer on the Kotzschmar and on many other organs throughout New England, a member of the Torch Club of Western Maine, and a 50-year-plus member of the South Portland Lions Club, the last two organizations honoring him with Lifetime Membership. On retirement from his optometric practice in 1982, Malcolm remained active in several of these organizations, and also in delivering Meals on Wheels with Hillie. He continued as organist and choir director at Peoples United Methodist Church in South Portland until his retirement in August 2007 after 67 years of service. During their later years, Malcolm and Hillie traveled widely in England, where they enthusiastically explored countryside and cathedral towns while renewing ties to various members of his parents' families. They also visited their Italian Son, Giovanni Losito, who had lived with them in 1963-1964 as an American Field Service student. Perhaps most important spiritually, they traveled to the Holy Land with a group from Peoples Church in 1988. With the help of Hillie and some great physicians, Malcolm overcame some serious health problems on his journey through 92 rich years of life. After surviving a major heart attack at about the same age both his parents died from similar causes, Malcolm had two successful coronary bypass operations, the second one at age 82 in 1998. Hillie was his partner and sometimes taskmaster in the management of his diabetes. Like her, Malcolm endured hardships and enjoyed living to a great age with the one that he loved. And like her, he ended life at peace with God, unconcerned with his imminent passing from our world. He leaves behind sons David and Malcolm; daughters-in-law Susan and Annette; grandchildren Elizabeth and Anne; and numerous nieces, nephews and their families. Visiting hours will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at the Peoples United Methodist Church Broadway South Portland.