Owen B. Durgin

Owen B. Durgin, 81, died of complications of Alzheimer's on June 25, 2003 at the home he shared with his daughter Lynn and son-in-law Murray B. Long in Durham, NH . Born in Portland, Maine, November 18, 1921, son of Austin Bernard Durgin and Louise Milliken Durgin, he attended Portland, schools, graduating from Portland High in 1938. He entered Gorham State Teachers College in 1939, where his education was interrupted by Army service during WWII from 1942 to 1946. He ultimately completed his B.S. degree in 1946. He taught math and was the women's basketball coach at Rangeley Maine High Schools from 1946-1949. There he met and married Priscilla Tibbetts; she pre-deceased him in 1993. He completed his MA at the University of New Hampshire in 1951. He joined the faculty and taught statistics throughout his 42 year university career. Other appointments at UNH included: Agricultural Experiment Station Statistician from 1957 – 1961and UNH Registrar from 1961 – 1967 where he and his assistant, Anne Palmer, initiated computerized student registration. Owen was also Associate Chairman of the Resources Development Center from 1967 -1981, Director of the Institute of Natural and Environmental Resources from 1981 to 1983. He became Director of the Office of Biometrics, helping countless graduate students conduct and analyze research for their dissertations, until his retirement in 1993. Mr. Durgin was also active in Durham town government, where he was appointed to the Planning Board in 1967. He served in the leadership of the town as a Selectman from 1972-1988, and was active in transforming the structure of the town into a Manager-Council form of government. He was then elected and served as a Town Councilor from 1988-1990. He particularly loved spending summers at the family camp built by his grandfather on Highland Lake in Falmouth, Maine. Owen enjoyed canoeing and wildlife photography and was a gifted wood carver and craftsman. Mr. Durgin is survived by three children, daughters, Susan (husband Dean Cilley) of Yarmouth, Maine, and Lynn (husband Murray Long) of Durham, NH, and son, Bernard of Orlando, Florida. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 6 at the Chapel of the Durham Community Church.. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Wentworth Home Care and Hospice, 113 New Rochester Road, Suite 4, Dover, NH 03820. The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of arrangements. To view an on line obituary or to send a condolence go t www.csnh.com