The Rev. Dr. Oscar E. Remick, age 69, died March 25, 2002. Born in Ellsworth Maine August 24, 1932, Dr. Remick was predeceased by his parents Horace and Blanch Remick, Sisters Kathleen Karst and Arlene Rand. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Emma L. Remick of Trenton, ME, Son Mark and wife Traci, their daughters Amy, Megan and Leah of Ellsworth, ME, Son John of Detroit, MI and Son Paul of Cleveland, OH, Sister Loretta and husband Dr. Dewey Richards of Trenton,ME and Port Charlotte, FL. Three nephews: Robert Tilden of Lamoine, ME, John Karst of Lamoine, ME, and Jim Karst of Ellsworth, ME. Five nieces: Julie Tilden of Lamoine ME, Dr. Andrea Tilden of Waterville, ME, Sarah Warner of Lincoln, ME, Marilyn Wensing of Nashua, N.H. and Linda Reger of Amherst, N.H.

After graduating from the Ellsworth High School in Ellsworth, ME in 1950, Dr. Remick continued his education earning a B.A. from Eastern College, a B.D. from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Masters Degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. Graduate studies in Philosophy and Religion were attained from Andover Newton and Harvard Divinity Schools. He earned Ph.D. from Boston University. With two Fulbright scholarships he studied at Heidelberg University, and in India. Dr. Remick was an ordained Presbyterian minister.

Dr. Remick was the Vice President and Academic Dean at Assumption College Worcester, MA from 1968 to 1971. He served as President of Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY from 1971 to 1977, as Dean of Arts and Humanities at State University of New York at Fredonia from1977 to 1980, and as President of Alma College, Alma MI from 1980 to 1987. He retired as Chancellor of Westminster College in 1997 after serving as President for 10 years. Following his retirement, he returned to Ellsworth, ME to pursue his life long passion of teaching. He conducted classes at the University of Maine, Bangor Theological Seminary and the Adult Christian Education class at the First Congressional Church in Ellsworth. He was active in community organizations and served on the Boards of Directors for: The Abbe Museum, Woodlawn Museum (Black House), The Grand Auditorium, and the Ellsworth High School Alumni Association.

Dr. Remick has served as Chairman for the Council of the Arts in New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania. He was an advisor to several Governors and to Congress on higher education and was appointed to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge's Keystone Committee to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state government through reforms in the areas of education, health care, economic development, and welfare. He has been honored twice with the Paul Harris Fellow award for public service.

A memorial service is planned for August 24, 2002. Memorial contributions may be directed to The First Congregational Church of Ellsworth, P.O. Box 12, Ellsworth ME 04605, the Dr. Oscar E. Remick scholarship fund at Westminster College, New Wilmington PA. 16172-0001, or to any of the many other institutions Dr. Remick served.

The family offers thanks to all the people who allowed Oscar Remick to be a part of their lives. You brought him joy and purpose to his every day.

He Was A Gift To Us

I knew a man who was an exceptional man. He died today. He was my friend. He had lots of friends, and he made them all feel special, because he saw and knew that they were special.

You see, God had given him a unique set of gifts, and he chose to use those gifts for good and to glorify God.

He was a family man. He mowed the grass, chopped the wood and shoveled the snow because he wanted to provide for his family. But he was more than a provider. He was a father and he loved his sons. He was a grandfather, who would play with his grandchildren and they would call him Pop-O. He was a brother and a son. He was an uncle and his wife an aunt. How he loved his family and how they loved him.

He was a husband. He protected his wife and he loved her. And when their time came to part, he said, "I love you. I will miss you."

He and his family embraced friends as family, and his family graciously shared him with many.

He was a Mainer and he loved the sea. He liked to laugh and could tell a good joke. When life or people were sad, he cried.

He was a teacher. He would take time to talk and debate, to agree and disagree. He was demanding, but never more than on himself. He loved to learn and was contagious with his enthusiasm and his pursuit of excellence. He loved his students, they knew it, and they loved him as well. He taught us that we were each unique and he taught us about the tides.

He was a preacher and a pastor. He loved to speak and we loved to listen. He would exhort and expound. He had very strong beliefs but had an even greater commitment to grace. When we needed strength he would gird us, when we needed wisdom he would teach us, when we needed to talk he would listen to us and when we needed comfort he would hold us. He married young couples and dedicated children.

He was a leader with a servant's heart. He had a ferocious commitment to those purposes to which he was called. When he was called, people and places were blessed by him. He called us to a higher ground and to greater purpose. He blessed us all and he was a gift to us.

He was a child of God. He believed that all God required was to "do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." He modeled Christ for us. He was a sweet man, like the Lamb of God, a powerful man, like the Lion of Judah. He prayed, "Not my will, but Yours be done."

He was an Easter man, knowing that the resurrection of Christ defined his relationship with God and this world.

He wanted to be fully used up by God, and he was. God and all the saints greeted him today, and they said, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I knew a man who was an exceptional man. He died today. He was my friend. He had lots of friends, and he made them all feel special, because he saw and knew that they were special.

A small tribute to Dr. Oscar E. Remick, August 24, 1932 - March 25, 2002

Scott A. Beck, 3/25/02