Timothy R. Brewster

YORK – Timothy Robert Brewster, Newspaper Editor, died on April 19, 2026, in York, Maine, which had been his home for 38 years. He was 74.

Tim was born in Laconia, N.H. and raised in Meredith, the son of Robert W. and Marie (Conlon) Brewster. After 10 years in local schools, he attended New Hampton School on a day-student scholarship, graduating in 1969. In his youth, Tim was a track athlete. His specialty was pole-vaulting, and he distinguished himself as a medalist in the New England boys’ meet for prep schools.

At the University of New Hampshire (1969-73), he majored in English and was a student in the journalism program led by Don Murray. There he learned the skills he would use throughout his career as a reporter and editor. He filled various roles, primarily editorial, at the Portland Press Herald from 1988 to 2019. Prior to moving to Maine, he worked as a managing editor at the Newburgh and Oswego, New York papers, and at the Portsmouth Herald in New Hampshire.

Tim was an intense and careful editor. A colleague wrote, Tim “used extreme attention to detail to rescue many stories from embarrassing reporting and editing errors.” He twice received the New York State Publishers Association’s top award for editorial writing and his hard-hitting columns on local, county and state issues.

Tim enjoyed living in the York and Portsmouth region. He loved the beaches and changes of seasons—including the time of year he dubbed, “Tourists Leave.” He spent many holidays with family, and was a thoughtful gift-giver and bon vivant. He was a fount of anecdotes, and some of his best were about claims made in obituaries. He cherished friendships with the late James Robertson, who was a schoolmate since first grade; with George Lamprey, his classmate at New Hampton and roommate at UNH; and with Sarah, a dear friend since his senior year at UNH.

Tim was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Marie, and stepmother, Sylvia (Smith) Brewster; his brother Brian; and many aunts and uncles. His aunt Florence “Florie” Stewart, who passed in 2013, was very special to him.

He is survived by siblings Ray Brewster (Jan), Robert M. Brewster (Margarita), Frank Brewster, and Ruth Davis; nephews and nieces David Brewster (Annette), Stephen Brewster, Ariel Brewster (Patrick White), Emma Brewster, Hannah Bouchard (Cory), Carrie Bednar (Thomas), Evan Davis, Lindsay Doland (Nick), and Jeremie Nichols (Kristi); as well as many grandnephews and grandnieces. The Stewart cousins, Don, Tom, Jim and Jon, were like brothers to him. Susan Balsamo, Brian’s widow, became a sister.

A small gathering for family will be held in June.

Cards and notes of condolence can be mailed to Ray Brewster, 48 Isaac Perkins Rd., Lyme, NH 03768.

Contributions in memory of Tim can be made to:

the Freedom of the Press Foundation at

https://freedom.press/donate/ or to:

Frederick Smith and Grace Vohn Smith Scholarship for day students at

New Hampton School

70 Main St.

New Hampton, NH 03256