TOPSHAM

During Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony in Brunswick, it was announced that longtime veterans advocate William “Chick” Ciciotte of Topsham died Sunday. A member of the American Legion Post 20 in Brunswick, he was a past department commander for the American Legion Department of Maine.

Ciciotte had worked for more than 40 years advocating for veterans.

Ciciotte, originally from Massachusetts, joined the Air Force shortly after turning 17 in 1957. His primary job was aircraft control and warning so he used radar and scanned the skies for enemy aircraft. He came to Brunswick Naval Air Station in 1957 and married a girl from Brunswick in 1962.

Determined to help veterans, Ciciotte was not one to back down from a challenge. While in the military he was a 112-pound flyweight boxer who won the Golden Gloves and was a World Wide Air Force champion.

He was coaching boxing in 1958 when eight of his boxers were sent to Vietnam and only four returned.

He retired from the Air Force in 1970 and began working with veterans, working to get them the resources they needed. Over the years he helped thousands. He wanted more to be done for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries, for example.

“To me they were kids, 18, 19 years old. And that’s what got me going. I said to myself, ‘somebody’s got to take care of these guys,’” Ciciotte said in a 2016 interview.

Ciciotte was a frequent booster of Gov. Paul LePage, and would often host the governor and first lady Ann LePage at local veterans events. Ciciotte made Maine headlines during the 2014 governor’s race when in response to comments made by LePage’s Democratic opponent, former Congressman Mike Michaud, regarding needing to do more than hold “ice cream socials at the Blaine House” for veterans.

“Why do people say that Gov. LePage is not doing anything for veterans? I’ve been doing this stuff for 42 years. I have never seen a governor visit the town of Brunswick or Topsham so many times as Gov. LePage,” Ciciotte said at a press conference he held in Brunswick at the time.

At the State House, Ciciotte lobbied hard on both sides of the aisle for veterans.

In a May 2016 Facebook post, Rep. William Tuell, R-East Machias, wrote: “Chick Ciciotte is one of the most genuine, passionate, hardworking, forthright, diligent, committed people I have met during my two years in the Legislature. He’s everywhere, every day whether it’s pushing for veterans issues large and small from no income tax on military pensions to renaming a little ol’ bridge in Machias to helping organize, orchestrate, and recognize the valor and heroism of those who served our country.”

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