Obituary of J. Dana Canavan

J. Dana Canavan, 51, of Freedom - The man with the warmest smile, longest braid and blackest beret was taken from us Wednesday morning July 7, 2010. His life was cut short by a tragic car accident on his way to work. Survived by his cherished and beloved partner of 11 years, Linda Stout, father to Tammy Pagliaroli, Ryan Lloyd(Dylan Black) and Colin Lloyd, grandfather to Lacey Pagliaroli. Beloved son of Edgar and Ingrid Canavan of Waldoboro, ME, brother of Ed Canavan (Valentina Harizanov)of Columbia MD, Lydia Canavan(Roy Skog) of Fresno, CA, Lorna Kahn (Randy Kahn), of St. Louis, MO, and Bryan Canavan of Boston, MA. Uncle to Alycia Canavan-Monte, Madison, Hana and Satchel Kahn, Sofija and Kalina Canavan, and Tres and Sawyer Skog. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on October 23, 1958, he attended James Madison High School, University of ME, Orono and Northeastern University. Resident and committed community member of Maine for 30 years, he loved his state and the closeness to nature that it provided. Dana worked for the Maine DOT for 20 years proudly helping to maintain Maine’s roads and highways. His work there afforded him the opportunity to work in the outdoors, meet many people and spend summer nights under the star filled night sky. Dana had an abundance of friends and acquaintances from different periods of his life that enriched and filled his life with great stories and fond memories. He loved people and was always eager to take time out for a chat. Inspired by his father, Dana had a passion for baking. Lucky are the friends with whom he shared the many wonderful Christmas cookies, wedding cakes and countless birthday cakes. He loved to feed us all cake! We will gather with Dana to say our last goodbyes and to celebrate his life on Saturday July 10, 2010. Friends are welcome to join us in Dana and Linda’s garden for a ceremony to share stories, songs and memories at 1 p.m., followed by a pot luck reception. Arrangements are under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home Belfast, Me. Online condolences may be made to Dana’s family at www.ripostafh.com