Lars H. Rydell, 76, died Aug. 25 at his summer residence on Isle of Springs in Boothbay. He was born in Boston, Mass. on April 10, 1942 to Carl A. Rydell and Nan A. Holmqvist.
He graduated from Westin High School in Massachusetts in 1960, earned his B.A. in 1964 from Brown University in Providence, R.I., his M.A. from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966, and his PhD from Case Western Reserve in 1970.
For a few years Lars was an assistant professor in social medicine at the University of Rhode Island. In 1972 he took the same job at Oslo University, and the whole family moved to Oslo, Norway, for six and a half years. When they returned to the U.S. in 1979, they settled in Brunswick. For the next 23 years Lars worked in differing capacities for the state of Maine. He was a systems and policy analyst in the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis, and also worked for Maine’s Secretary of State.
He was very involved with the Kiwanis Club, and served as a board member for Family Focus in Brunswick.
He had a passion for wood carving, knot tying and sailing. He decorated a coffee table with the elaborate, intricate designs of traditional Norwegian wood carving. He created mats out of rope woven into ocean plait knots. He sailed on the Oslo Fjord and the Skagerrak, on the Sheepscot River and in Casco Bay.
He loved playing guitar with family and friends.
He made a great herring omelet.
Lars was predeceased by both parents; wife, Charlene; brother, Peter Rydell; and daughter-in-law, Lynn Rydell.
He is survived by son, David Rydell and daughter-in-law Karen of Panama City, Fla.; granddaughter, Katherine Rydell of Brunswick; grandson, Carl Rydell of Lynchburg Va.; sister-in-law, Katy Rydell of Portland; and partner, Jackie Robie of Meredith, N.H.
At Lars’s request there will be no service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family Focus, 44 Water St., Brunswick, ME 04011. Family Focus provides early child care services in Midcoast Maine.
To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com.
Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements.
