Susan and Mia,

Wish I could be there with you today.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  Sending lots of love and hugs your way.  

The first time I met George was in a Rockland church; I was late, with a tattered address in my hand - and thought I'd walked into a dazzling show: music, dancers, poetry - orchestrated by the man I later came to call the Sol Hurok of Maine: who else but George Van Deventer could orchestrate such gatherings?  

He was unique in his ability to draw people into his life, to experience his joys, from John Clare to choral music, art - remember the paintings that covered the walls, top to bottom, of his and Arlene's home, first at Snow Drift Farm, later in his self-designed home on Quail Run Road? 

As with John Clare, George's poems ranged from close observations of nature, to introspective ruminations about life, death - the verities we all live by.  I particularly remember the early poetry group meetings he and Arlene hosted at Snow Drift Farm - cozy, inviting - we poets honing our skills with supportive  critique, becoming fast friends in the process.

George founded the Live Poets Society to widen an audience for poetry and music. Monthly meetings grew in depth:  our printed programs included poetry, book reviews, art, ads. We brought in guest poets and musicians.   

Perhaps George's greatest community contribution was his annual children's poetry festival held at the Camden Opera House to a packed audience of family, friends, teachers busting their buttons in pride as their kids read their own poems - the culmination of a program George created to work with students in their classrooms introducing them to the passion of poetry, listening, writing, reading, presenting their own poems.  George invited many poets to share in that teaching program as it grew to many regional schools; I never forgot the experience the time George invited me.

George's reach was so wide, so generous, he gave so much of himself, touched so many lives...he was a good friend, too, and I miss him.  The other side of love is loss and grief, but who of us, his many friends over many years, would have passed on the joy, the excitement, of sharing in George's life. I wouldn't have missed a minute of it.

Sorry to hear about the passing of both of your parents.

I am sure  you have good memories of living on the farm in Washington and attending SAD 40 schools.  I don't know if I ever met your parents.....but the memories you helped create while involved in MVHS drama and music are lasting.   When you get a chance, email me at

ambquilter@gmail.com       Love and hugs, Anne Baker