PORTLAND — Charles Whitney Redman Jr., 94, died July 1 at his home in Portland after a long illness.

Redman was born in Corinna on Feb. 15, 1920, the son of Charles and Carrie Mae Redman. His family soon moved to Bangor, where he attended public schools and graduated from Bangor High School in 1938 as president of his class.

He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1942, and then attended the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School, receiving the rank of lieutenant junior grade. During World War II, Redman served for nearly two years in the South Pacific, primarily aboard the destroyer USS Bennion.

After returning to the U.S. in 1945, Redman married Wilma Parker. The couple lived in Norfolk, Virginia, and Boston while he completed his military service. Redman then joined the Milliken Tomlinson Co. and worked there in various positions. He moved to Portland in 1956, rose to become the company’s president, and served in that role until the company was sold and he retired.

Redman was subsequently appointed by the city as a director of the Portland Fish Exchange. He served enthusiastically with the Exchange for many years, bringing his business expertise to its administration. The Exchange building on Commercial Street in Portland is named in his honor.

Redman was a founding director of the Maine Cancer Research Foundation, and enjoyed tennis, skiing and bird hunting. Some of his happiest days were spent at his family farm in East Cornith, a hunting camp on Second Musquacook Lake, and on Little Sebago Lake.

Advertisement

He is survived by his wife, Wilma; sons Joseph P. and his wife, Jayne, Julian, and Charles III, his wife, Melissa; and three grandchildren, Rebecca, James and Michael. Redman is also survived by his sister, Lucy Mae, her husband, Bruce Munger, and their children, and many nieces and nephews.

Redman was predeceased by a brother, Chandler, and his wife, Marjorie; and his sister, Mary Jane, and her husband, Robert Whittier.

Redman’s family would like to acknowledge the loving care provided by his caregivers, Bonnie Randall, Judith Caparratto, Tonya Arsenault, Anastasia Belova and Linda Quimby, as well as his hospice nurse, Ann Marie Chandler.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Alumni Fund of Bowdoin College.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.