Staci Kay Converse

SOUTH PORTLAND – Staci Kay Converse, an unyielding pillar of developmental disability rights in Maine, died unexpectedly Wednesday, July 8, 2026. She was 54.

Daughter, sister, wife and stepmother, Staci contributed to the universe far more than she asked of it, tirelessly scrapping on behalf of the developmentally disabled. She saved and improved the lives of countless people, forever expanding their personal horizons as well as society’s understanding of their role in the American experience.

Born in Spokane, Wash. to George and Diane Shaffer, Staci spent her childhood swimming and water-skiing the lakes of the Pacific Northwest with her beloved sister, Jill. During those magical summers, they would camp under the stars, collect shells, harvest crabs and clams from the beaches and lakes in Washington State, Idaho, and Oregon. In the winter in Spokane there was ice skating and fireworks.

Later in life with her husband, John, and his four children from previous marriages, Staci fully embraced the role of “bonus mom.” For more than 17 years, she helped to rear and guide them from children to teenagers to young adults, providing wisdom and counsel and redefining how we all defined “family.”

Summers were jam-packed with backyard badminton, trips to local beaches (Staci freakishly ignoring the abnormal ocean temperatures), cookouts, water-gun fights with the grandsons, dutifully tending to a bountiful garden, and the precious Sunday dinners, a tradition she continued even when her husband was away on extended Navy deployments. If the menu included bread, Staci baked it from scratch. Salads, herbs, tomatoes, and vegetables were often from her garden.

Staci was a fanatical lover of baseball, oysters, cheesy televised baking shows, and clothes of any and all number of shades of the color black.

Blessed with both a gentle personality and a ferocious independence, Staci was genetically incapable of turning down a request to help others.

At Disability Rights Maine (https://drme.org/) (DRM), Staci led the developmental disabilities team of seven advocates and attorneys and litigated Medicaid, American with Disabilities Act, guardianship and other civil right cases for some 18 years.

She was the lead attorney in Van Meter v. Mayhew (https://clearinghouse.net/doc/43264/), a landmark class-action lawsuit that forced the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to provide services to people with developmental disabilities so they could live in the community.

Before joining Disability Rights Maine, she was an associate attorney specializing in special education law at the Portland firm of Murray, Plumb and Murray.

Staci was a graduate of The University of Texas and a cum laude graduate of the University of Maine School of Law, where she served on the Law Review. She also served as a law clerk to Justice Susan Calkins at the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

As her DRM colleagues noted: “Staci’s advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities was fierce, compassionate, and awe-inspiring. She didn’t just do the work; she lived it. She led by example, inspiring those around her to become better advocates and better people. Her unwavering belief in the principles of autonomy, community integration, and self-direction was admired by everyone who knew her.”

She believed deeply in the mission of Disability Rights Maine.

Staci laughed with her whole body, and it was impossible not to laugh with her. When she threw her head back and laughed her loudest, she radiated pure joy. She made us all happier.

While she was an extraordinary attorney, she was an even better friend. She listened without judgment, offered fresh perspectives, celebrated our joys, and lifted us up when we were down.

Staci is survived by her parents, Diane and Ken Ray of Venice, Fla.; her sister and brother-in-law, Jill and Brian Smith of Dunedin, Fla.; her husband, John Ripley, of South Portland; her stepchildren, Elijah Ripley of Dayton, Caleb Ripley of Portland, Sam Ripley of South Portland, and Grace Ripley of St. Louis, Mo.; and her beloved grandsons Rylan and Levi. She also is survived by her treasured dogs Norman and Sunny, and predeceased by her cats, Olivia and Jasper. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Charles and Mildred (Mickey) Converse.

A celebration of life will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Ship Cove Platform, Fort Williams Park. (https://www.capeelizabeth.gov/departments/community_services_fort_williams_park/fort_williams_park/index.php)(Portland Head Light) Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Donations in Staci’s honor can be made to

Disability Rights Maine