1924 – 2016

PORTLAND — Horace “Hod” Atwood Record, 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 10, at the Cedars Skilled Care Center in Portland.

He was born Oct. 11, 1924, in Lewiston, the son of Elizabeth and Walter Record. He attended Buckfield schools and graduated from high school in June 1942.

Hod left Buckfield on Oct. 9, 1941, and entered Maine Maritime Academy. He was a member of the first class who called themselves the “Solid 28.” On May 29, 1943, he graduated with distinction and was awarded highest honors from Gov. Sumner Sewall and Admiral Douglas E. Dismukes.

Hod became an officer in the Merchant Marines and served until March 1946. He took at least 10 trips during the war to overseas ports in England, Scotland, France, Russia and Greece. He had many sea stories and recently recalled falling through the ice on a trip to Murmansk, Russia, in December 1944 and seeing the armada of ships preparing for D-day invasion near London on June 6, 1944.

In 1946, Hod decided to go back to school and entered as a freshman at Bates College. While at Bates, he studied mathematics and enjoyed football, baseball and track. He also met his future wife, Carol Woodcock. He recently recalled how beautiful she looked when walking across campus. When inquiring who she was, his buddies informed him that she was the daughter of Karl Woodcock, the chairman of the Bates physics department.

After graduating from Bates in 1950, Hod joined the U.S. Air Force as a weatherman and was stationed at Chanute Field in Illinois. While he was there, he took some advanced courses in actuarial work at the University of Illinois. His then fiancée Carol moved to Illinois to take courses in elementary education. They drove back to Maine and were married on Feb. 2, 1953, and returned to Illinois where Hod completed his term of duty.

After being discharged from the Air Force, Hod and Carol returned to New England where Hod worked for Connecticut General. They started a family with the birth of their first son, Andy, in 1957. After Hod finished his actuarial exams, they moved to Cape Elizabeth where Hod pursued his career as an actuary at Union Mutual. Their second son, Scott, was born in 1963.

Hod and Carol lived in Cape Elizabeth until 2002 when they moved to the Atrium Retirement Community at the Cedars in Portland. The Cedars facilities have allowed them more time to relax and be with their family and friends. The social atmosphere at the Atrium enriched Hod and Carol’s lives for many years.

Hod is survived by his son, Andy; his son, Scott and wife, Beth; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and their children.

Hod is predeceased by his wife, Carol; his sister, Helen; and brother, Ralph.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.