Obituary for William Olsen | Strong-Hancock Funeral Home
- Date Of Birth: January 12, 1929
- Date Of Death: October 11, 2013
- State: Maine
William Randolph Olsen, 84, of South Bristol, passed away on October 11 at Coves Edge in Damariscotta, after a long illness. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, the fifth child of Kristoffer and Aino (Lehtonen) Olsen, a Norwegian seafaring man and a Finnish Laplander mother. In his own words: “Brooklyn was made up of first generation Americans and Patriotism was like breathing. So, naturally I enlisted to serve my country.” Bill started in the National Guard, then the U.S. Army Airforce, before ending with the U.S. Marine Corps. Doing a tour in South Korea, he served as an Aerial Photographer, hanging out to get the shot. After his service, he became a specialist at baby photography. That was followed by many years as a School Picture Photographer working out of his home in NJ. In 1973, he moved his family to Maine, settling first in Friendship, and then in 1986 on Rutherford Island, South Bristol. He was a member of the Professional Photographers of America, and a Mason with Alna-Anchor Lodge of Damariscotta. Becoming a boat owner, he joined the Power Squadron, serving as Wawenock Squadron Commander from 1983-1985. For ten years, Bill was an advocate for residents of nursing homes as a volunteer ombudsman with the Maine Long term care program. Most recently, he was an Informed Notary of Maine. Bill is survived by his wife of 53 years, Maude Olsen; son, Christopher K. Olsen and wife Robin Pinkham; son, Eric T. Olsen; son, Greg Thompson and Katrina; son, Kenneth Thompson; daughter, Lynne Thompson and husband Norman Ingalls; daughter, Arlene and husband Martin Thurston; as well as nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. As Bill’s years in service interrupted his education, his daughter Lynne took him back to Brooklyn High School in 2007 where he was finally awarded his High School Diploma, and also his yearbook full of photos he had taken!!