PORTLAND — Jay Henry Vreeland, 76, died Nov. 14 at Maine Medical Center after being diagnosed with leukemia in 2008. Formerly a longtime Yarmouth resident, he was most recently a resident at an independent living facility in Portland.
Born in Watertown, Mass. on Feb. 24, 1933, he was the eldest son of Jay and Alice (Carney) Vreeland.
He earned a bachelor’s of science from the University of Maine at Orono, and later, a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 1962 he joined S.D. Warren in Westbrook as a research chemist, where he was eventually named the director of research.
On May 8, 1965, he married Penelope Kelley.
He had numerous accomplishments in paper and coating technology. In 1993 he was named a TAPPI Fellow and in 2004 received the Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award in recognition of his contributions to the pulp, paper and forest product industries.
An avid golfer, he was a member of the Portland Country Club.
He spent summers sailing on Casco Bay, and enjoyed astronomy, tinkering, and good conversation. He was a wine connoisseur and writer who was known to spontaneously recite limericks and famous poetry.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Penelope (Kelley) Vreeland of Gray; two children, Laura Cholod and her husband Robert of Portland and Christopher Vreeland and his wife Molly of Sandisfield, Mass.; three siblings, Roy Vreeland of Brunswick, Robert Vreeland of Nalcrest, Fla., and Adelle Meixler of Lakeside, Ariz.; and three grandchildren, Lydia, Kyle and Caleb.
Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend a public visitation from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18 at the Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. A private funeral and burial will be held at a later date.
Condolences, memories and wishes may be shared with the family at www.mem.com.
Memorial donations may be made to the Foundation for Blood Research, Attn: ScienceWorks for ME, P.O. Box 190, Scarborough, ME 04070-0190, or at www.fbr.org/swksweb/sciworks.html.
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