1927 – 2015

NORTH YARMOUTH — Bruce W. Hazelton, 87, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 10.

He was born on Nov. 2, 1927, in Chester, N.H. to Robert C. and Margaret (McComb) Hazelton. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H., Class of 1946. Following high school, he attended Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, Class of 1950.

Bruce joined his father selling and servicing Ford tractors in the business his father established at the family farm in Chester during the Great Depression, R.C. Hazelton Co. Inc., and later expanded to a larger facility in Manchester, N.H., selling and servicing International Harvester construction equipment.

In June 1950, he married Avalon Lee Crosby of Derry, N.H. When the business expanded to Maine in 1956, Bruce and his young family moved to Cumberland Foreside and later to North Yarmouth. Bruce served as general manager of the Cumberland operations as well as president of R.C. Hazelton Co. Inc. until his retirement in 1984.

Bruce’s passion was stamp collecting and U.S. postal history, especially as it related to the state of Maine. Over his lifetime, he amassed one of the largest collections of Maine postal history in the country and was well-known and highly respected for his extensive knowledge and vast collection. He was often invited to speak to various philatelic groups around the country.

Bruce’s love of stamps and Maine history led him to serve and support numerous philatelic and historical societies around the country, including Portland, Waterville, Ellsworth, York County, Great Bay Stamp Club, Maine Philatelic Society, Philatelic Group of Boston, American Philatelic Society, as well as Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Yarmouth and Maine historical societies, and Skyline Farm Carriage Museum.

Bruce’s other great love was golf. He had been known to play with fluorescent orange golf balls in the snow. For many years, he organized the Senior Men’s and Women’s Golf Leagues at Val Halla, Freeport and Toddy Brook golf courses.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents; his wife of 54 years; and his eldest daughter, the Rev. Gweneth L. Hazelton.

He is survived by his son, Robert C. Hazelton of North Yarmouth; daughters, Janet Stoddard and husband, Craig, of North Yarmouth, Lily Bay, and Lisa Trainor and husband, John, of Derry, N.H. He leaves his grandsons, Jacob Stoddard and wife, Ashley, of Raymond, and Sean Trainor of Derry, N.H.; granddaughters, Shannon, Kelly and Erin Trainor, all of Derry, N.H., and Linan Cicerchia and husband, Stephen, of Warwick, R.I. and their sons, Thomas and Noah.

Bruce is also survived by his brother, Richard and wife, Marion, of Chester, N.H.; nieces, Catharine Plummer and husband, Kitt, of Londonderry, N.H., and Deborah Lewis of Chester, N.H.; and nephews, Daniel Hazelton and wife, Lorna, of Chester, David Folsom of Farmington, N.H., and Neal Folsom and wife, Verna, of Epping, N.H.