SANFORD – Bruce Goodwin, a former Sanford official and a retired state revenue agent, died Tuesday. He was 78.
Mr. Goodwin joined state government in 1965 and worked his way up to tax auditor. His job was to audit companies that did business in the state. In 2000, he retired as a senior revenue agent for what is now Maine Revenue Services’ Department of Finance and Administration.
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His daughter Mary Braese of Wells said Wednesday that she and her siblings tagged along when their father visited companies. Her father once let her drive to Vermont and back just after she got her license.
“I think back on it and I think he was crazy,” she said. “Those were special times back then.”
Mr. Goodwin was married to Marcia Goodwin for 51 years and raised five children.
The couple met at the former Corner Shop in Springvale, a coffee shop near Nasson College, which they both attended.
His wife said they enjoyed camping and traveling. She said one of his favorite places to go was Nova Scotia.
Marcia Goodwin said she’ll miss her husband’s smile.
“We had a wonderful life together,” his wife said. “We always supported each other. We were best friends, you could say. We were in love all those years.”
Mr. Goodwin, a lifelong resident of Sanford, was a town meeting member for more than 20 years and a longtime chairman of Sanford’s budget-writing Warrant Committee.
Gilles Auger, a moderator for Sanford’s annual town meeting for nearly 30 years, said Wednesday that Mr. Goodwin was an honest person.
“Bruce made life a lot easier when it came time for the town meeting,” Auger said. “He really knew (the budget) and we trusted him. We lost a good citizen.”
About two years ago, Mr. Goodwin suffered a stroke. His wife cared for him at home until four days before he died, when he was transferred to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.
His daughter was with him when he died Tuesday. His wife said she had said goodbye.
“I knew it was coming. It happened very quickly and peacefully,” she said. “He was so sick for so long. I feel peace right how. I have no regrets. I took care of him when other people thought I couldn’t. It never occurred to me not to and I’m so glad I did.”
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at mcreamer@pressherald.com
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