Al was born in Portland April 28, 1936, the son of Thomas and Caroline Payson. When he was still very young, the family moved to Yarmouth, where they remained for almost seventy years. He was educated at North Yarmouth Academy and Maine Central Institute, graduating in 1954. Al then followed in his father’s footsteps and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Bowdoin College in 1958. Bowdoin and his classmates remained special to him throughout his life as he regularly attended Alumni functions and sporting events, especially women’s basketball.
Soon after graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy. After Officer Candidate School in Chicago, Illinois, he served in the Pacific Ocean on the USS Bennington. While that ship was docked in the Philippines, Al met the love of his life, Susanna Divinagracia. They were married in 1962 and returned to the United States shortly afterward. He left active duty and entered the Naval Reserves, in which he served loyally until 1986, having achieved the rank of Commander.
After working for a short time in Boston, he began his life’s work as a teacher. Al taught for five years at North Yarmouth Academy then moved to Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania to earn a Master’s Degree in Mathematics at Penn State University. From 1972 until 1997, he taught all levels of mathematics at Ramapo Senior High School in Spring Valley, New York. He also coached soccer, basketball and Math League. Each of his teams enjoyed successful seasons.
A lifelong Red Sox fan, Al was passionate about baseball and served as an umpire during four decades in both Maine and New York, officiating at all levels of recreational and scholastic competition. In 1963 he attended the Al Somers (now Harry Wendelstedt) Umpire School with the intention of working his way to major league umpiring, but decided instead to commit to local competition and remain close to his family. He rose to the presidency of the Rockland County (NY) Umpires Association and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1996. This commitment to baseball culminated in recognition from the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame, which presented him with its President’s Award in 2011.
He was an active member in his church, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Yarmouth, where he loved singing in the choir. His faith guided him in all his decisions and supported him through the ups and downs of life.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Susan D. Payson, his sons: Albion Little Payson II of Congers, New York and Benjamin Nicholas of Williamsburg, Virginia, and daughter Teresa Landor, of Bartlett, Illinois; his sisters: Helen Brown Seager of Sudbury, Massachusetts, Penelope Hart Simkin of Seattle, Washington, Caroline Cushman Payson, of York, and Barbara Tellefsen of Gray; his brother Nicholas of Brunswick; five grandchildren, three nephews, and eight nieces.
At his request, there will be no public visiting hours. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 28th at 1:30 p.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 396 Gilman Road , Yarmouth. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to share your condolences, memories and tributes with the Payson family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Al’s memory may be made to: Bowdoin College Alumni Fund, Office of Development, 4100 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011-8432, www.Bowdoin.edu; or to St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 396 Gilman Road, Yarmouth, Maine, 04096.
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