Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority

OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

The VHCME board of directors is still in formation. We hope to recruit additional directors and departmental officers from all major Maine veterans service organizations. We are also looking to recruit new members of the board who are professionals in those areas where we will need continued assistance such as real estate, the law, engineering, construction, landscape architecture, financial management. The only requirement set forth in our by-laws is that they be veterans.

The board of directors usually meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6:00pm, at the Maine Veterans Home on Cony Road, Augusta. Visitors are welcome!

We are also organizing an advisory committee whose members need no be veterans. Sub-committees of the advisory committee may be set up for specific tasks or in relation to specific projects. For example, a committee chaired by Jack Donovan, a director, is being established to assist us on the Hedin Hall project.

Members should come from the Bangor area and have specific skills; i.e. veteran outreach, fund raising, construction.

Our Officers and Directors: Mini Biographies

OFFICERS

Jim Friedlander - President
A World War II naval veteran, Jim served in the Pacific theatre on a minesweeper. He graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO in 1949; M. A. (History, Public Administration), NYU, 1956; M. S. (Urban Planning), Columbia U, 1959, Urban Planner 1955-1981. He was an innkeeper in Freeport from 1983 until 2003. Now lives in Brunswick. Senior Vice Commander, Chapter 15, DAV; member, JWV.

Arnold Leavitt - Vice President

A 1943 graduate of Bates, native of Auburn. World War II Army. Landed in Normandy on D-Day. POW. Owned a successful lumber business in Auburn. Since retiring from business, Arnie has done "a little lobbying' in Augusta for the American Association of Retired People and Veterans. He has served as State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Member of board of directors, Maine Veterans Homes.

Rich Cromwell - Treasurer

Rich was an Army Captain during the Vietnam war era. After working as a stockbroker and financial planner he went into the modular home building business in Brunswick where he lives. A leader in home builders organizations he has won prizes for the design of his projects. Rich is one of the founders of "America's First Ship", a project to build a replica of the "Virginia" which was constructed at the Popham Colony to sail colonists back to England.

Lu Lamoreau - Corresponding Secretary

Retired from the Air Force1955-1978, earned Bronze Star. Attended University of Maine at Augusta, self employed home builder. Post Commander and County Commander American Legion.

DIRECTORS

Jim Bachelder

Vietnam Navy 1969-1970, Jim has been active as a State Junior Vice Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Alumnus of Northeastern University. Diesel mechanic, computer administration and operation. VHCME's York County connection and co-chairman of the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Association.

Elmer Berry

Former State Senator; Chairman, Androscoggin County Commission; Former State President, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Duane Curtis

Marine during the Vietnam period. 100% disabled. Past Commander Chapter 8, Disabled American Veterans Mapleton. Our representative from Aroostook County.

Jack Donovan
Army veteran, served in Vietnam, 1966 - 1969. Husson College graduate, 1966, in Business Administration. Real estate development and property management for 30 years. "Our man in Bangor", heading VHCME efforts to develop Hedin Hall.

Gard Enman
Past Department Commander of the American Legion. Judge Advocate, American Legion. Vietnam combat veteran 1966-1969. Alumnus University of Southern Maine. Para-legal certificate. Sales Consultant. Resident of Lewiston.

Gary Laweryson
State Commandant of the Marine Corps League, Gary serves as President of the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee. Served in Vietnam. He and his wife, Linda, live in Waldoboro.

Linda Laweryson

An ex Marine along with her husband, Linda had been the secretary of the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee as well as VHCME's recording secretary until temporarily incapacitated by illness. Linda is a Registered Nurse.

Peter Ogden

Regular Army 1967 - 1995. Three tours in Vietnam. Lt Colonel in Army. Director of Veterans Services for State of Maine. A Waterville resident he serves on our Board ex officio as well as on the board of the Maine Veterans Homes.

Tim Politis
B.S. from Vermont's Castleton State College. Tim was a Marine Captain in Vietnam. A resident of Scarborough, he has been in the insurance and financial management business in Scarborough. While serving as chairman of the board of Maine Veterans Homes, he was tapped in 2002 to become the organization's President and CEO, a position he held until 2006.

Joe Tinkham
Native Portlander. B.S. from S.U.N.Y. Retired Major General and a Vietnam artillery veteran. Adjutant General, retired, of Maine National Guard. Former Commissioner of State Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. Former CEO of Maine Veterans Homes. Lives in South Gardiner.