Dr. William Brian Rines, 70, of South Gardiner, passed away at his home on Nov. 25. Dr. Rines died after a lengthy and courageous struggle with a rare, degenerative muscle disease and a more recent diagnosis of leukemia. At the time of Brian’s death, he was at his home with his wife Nancy, daughters Emily and Sarah and his brother Rudi.
Brian was an active member of numerous Gardiner, Central Maine, statewide and national civic, philanthropic, political and church organizations. Brian’s commitment to others began in his childhood and continued throughout his life. Despite increasing physical obstacles, he remained an engaged and giving person, always ready to volunteer his time to improve our society. A forensic psychologist, Dr. Rines worked diligently to improve mental health systems and healthcare delivery in Maine. Brian was a passionate advocate for people with mental illness and worked to improve their treatment and integration to society.
Brian was born in Gardiner in 1941 and was the oldest son of Fred W. Rines and Catherine Kincaid Rines. He graduated from Gardiner High School in 1959, received his Bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in 1963, and earned his PhD from the University of South Carolina in 1974. He completed his residency in Clinical Psychology at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago.
Professionally, Dr. Rines worked at the Kennebec Valley Mental Health Center before entering private practice. He served on the boards of a number of Maine healthcare organizations and hospitals. Dr. Rines qualified as an expert throughout Maine’s Superior, District and probate courts as well as in the Federal District Courts of Maine, Delaware and Connecticut. Brian continued to practice up to the time of his death.
Brian was elected mayor of Gardiner for seven consecutive terms, serving the city and its residents from 1992 to 2006. During his tenure he helped realize many successes for his hometown. He was the past chair of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce and was a current member of the University of Maine Augusta’s Board of Visitors. Brian was also chairman of the finance committee of Christ Episcopal Church in Gardiner where he was a Vestryman.
Brian especially loved spending time with family and looked forward to summertime gatherings at the Rines’ cottage in Chamberlain, overlooking Long Cove.
Brian is survived by his wife of 42 years, Nancy; son, Marc and his sons; daughter, Emily Rines Feeley; son-in-law, Tim Feeley; Brian and Nancy’s treasured granddaughter Amelia; daughter, Sarah Rines; son-in-law, Philip Javier-Wong; brother, Rudi Rines; many nieces and nephews; and many family members throughout the United States, Nova Scotia and New Foundland.
Services were Nov. 29 in Gardiner at Christ Episcopal Church.
