Perley Maynard Leighton, 77, died March 21st at the New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland. Born in Gardiner, Maine, he received top honors at Gardiner High School, earning a local scholarship to Colby College (class of 1947). He went on to receive a Masters degree from Columbia University and also pursued doctoral research at University College in London.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps (1942-1946) in New Guinea and the Philippines. After teaching English at Colby College, he became Executive Director of Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut for over 18 years. During his tenure, he received the award for the Most Outstanding Junior Achievement Chapter in the country. At that time he was active in his community, serving on the Finance Committee, working with the Democratic Party and serving as a trustee to the church. Later, he became Director of Special Juvenile Projects for the State of Connecticut.
A member of the Brightwater Club on the New Meadows in Phippsburg, Maine, he wrote the Club's by-laws and served on its executive committee. An avid carpenter, he built a cabin overlooking the entrance to "The Basin," which is still enjoyed by family and has become a navigational marker for coastal sailors.
In 1980 a spinal disease forced his early retirement and he moved to Portland, Maine. As the 12th generation of the Leighton family to be born in Maine, he had a strong interest in genealogy. In 1989 his two-volume, comprehensive genealogy, The Leighton Genealogy - Descendants of Thomas Leighton of Dover, New Hampshire was published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. The book is considered one of the definitive works on genealogy in the Northeast and he was honored for his contribution to genealogical research by the Maine Historical Society. Recently, he served as a valuable resource on the Internet for people exploring their own genealogies - gladly sharing information and research with hundreds of correspondents.
He is survived by his former spouse, Deborah Leighton, West Bath, Maine; son, Geoffrey Leighton, Durham, Maine; daughters, Victoria Foley, Portland, Maine and Elizabeth Leighton, Aberfeldy, Scotland; and two grandchildren, Shelby Leighton and Ryan Leighton Worrell.
There will be a celebration of his life at The Woodford Church in Portland at 1:00 PM on Friday, March 31st. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to either the Maine Historical Society, 485 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101 or the New England Historic Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116.
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