Todd L. Proctor

October 29, 1958 – June 19, 2022

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our brother Todd Proctor, age 63 of Camden, Maine. He passed away June 19, 2022, at the Sussman House in Rockport, Maine. He is survived by his brother Woody Proctor of Camden and sister Jayme E. Proctor of South Portland, his aunts Nancy Greenleaf, Betsy Nidecker, and several cousins. He is predeceased by his mother and father and loving grandparents.

Todd was born October 29, 1958, to Patricia I. Proctor and Peter W. Proctor in Boston, MA.

Todd grew up in Westborough, MA and spent his summers in Camden, Maine with family. He graduated from Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, MA in 1977 with a focused study in culinary arts. It was in high school that he discovered his natural talent and passion for cooking. He had exceptional supportive teachers and aspired to become a chef. After graduating from Assabet, he moved away from New England and pursued his culinary career. For many years, Todd lived in various southwestern locations of the US and worked for large corporate hotel firms and opened their new kitchens and managed their restaurants. He quickly moved up the corporate ladder and became an executive chef. His career brought him to Houston, TX, Tucson, AZ, Palm Desert, CA. Todd eventually left the corporate environment and moved to Baja Mexico, where he owned and operated an outdoor beachfront pizza restaurant for many years. In the late 1990’s, Todd moved to Portland, Maine. In Portland, he owned and operated various restaurants; Pizza Prima, Soffritto, The Corner General Store and a Mexican Restaurant named Salsa. Todd poured his heart and soul into his work with true passion and never hesitated to work long hours. His specialty was fresh, flavorful, authentic cuisine; he insisted everything was made from scratch and he took pride when he dressed his plates of food with an eye-catching mouthwatering presentation. He thrived well under chaos in a fast-paced kitchen, he loved to teach others and had a multitude of talents.

In 2005, Todd ended his chef career and left the city life for a new role to pursue gardening, discover new hobbies, interests, and commune with the natural world. His love of nature enticed him to move to rural Maine and live a simpler life. Todd was a free spirit who loved the ocean, art, the Baja of Mexico, camping, women, the outdoors, travel, playing with gadgets, music, creativity, entrepreneurship, fixing things, mechanical challenges, problem solving, listening to podcasts, learning new things. He had a fun sense of humor, and often a lighthearted way of looking at life, he loved to laugh.

Sadly, for those closest to him knew throughout his life he struggled with alcohol addiction. What once was exploratory, and fun became dependent and confining. This confinement created a wedge between him and loving relationships with family and friends. His addiction became a dominating force along with cancer at the end of his life.

We’d like to recognize and honor Todd’s big loving heart which he expressed through the abundance of food he proudly served.

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