Obituary: E. Christopher Livesay
E. Christopher Livesay, 81, Remembered as a Dedicated Lawyer, Conservationist, and Family Man
Brunswick, Maine – The community of Brunswick and its surrounding regions are mourning the loss of E. Christopher Livesay, a lifelong resident and public servant who passed away on September 6, 2026, at the age of 81.
Livesay was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to parents E. Boyd and Patricia D. Livesay. He spent his early years in Owls Head and Gorham before relocating to Brunswick in 1952, where he would make his home for the rest of his life. He graduated from Brunswick High School in 1963 and went on to earn a degree from Wesleyan University, followed by a law degree from Boston University School of Law.
He began practicing law in Brunswick in 1971, a career that would span five decades until his retirement. In 1970 he married Susan Deland, and the couple raised two sons—Nick, who resides in Brunswick, and Reeves, who lives in Middlebury, Vermont—while maintaining a strong family presence in the town.
Livesay was known for his love of New England sports, often cheering on his sons’ teams, and for his own competitive spirit, whether on the tennis court or at a game of cribbage. He was also a passionate collector of early Maine books and butterflies, a hobby that took him from the remote bogs of northern Maine to the rainforests of South America. His adventures were shared with his wife, Sue, and included canoeing in Maine and Baffin Island, hiking in Alaska, and summer expeditions to Wyoming’s Wind River Range, where the pair famously navigated the mountains with llamas carrying their gear while Livesay kept his butterfly net ready.
Beyond his personal interests, Livesay was deeply involved in public service. He served on the Brunswick Town Council, in the Maine Legislature, and on a variety of state and local boards, including the Forest Society of Maine, the Maine Historical Society, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection, Maine Audubon, and the Maine League of Conservation Voters. His dedication to conservation and history left a lasting impact on the region’s environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
Livesay leaves behind a long list of family: his wife of 56 years, Sue; sons Nick and Reeves; six grandchildren—Ryan, Lauren, Keira, Alice, Dana, and Annie—and a sister, Pam (Mark) Whittaker of Dedham. His passing has been felt deeply across Brunswick and the broader Maine community.
A public reception honoring Livesay’s life will be held on October 4, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Bowdoin College Cram Alumni House (83 Federal Street, Brunswick). Friends and family are invited to attend at any time within that window.
Memories, condolences, and tribute messages can be posted online at http://www.brackettfh.com. Donations in Livesay’s memory may be directed to the Forest Society of Maine (209 State Street, 2nd Floor, Bangor, ME 04401) or the Maine Historical Society (489 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101).
