Dateline - Wells

Ronald Leon St. James, 69, of Wells, Maine, died at home on February 9, 2017.
Born in Barre, Vermont on December 9, 1947, Ron was the son of Leon and Jeannette (Benoit) St. James. He grew up in White River Junction, Vermont and attended Harvard University before being drafted to serve as a medic in the 101st Airborne in Vietnam from 1967-69.
Ron married Anne Robichaud July 11, 1970 and received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Vermont in 1973 and his Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut. He and Anne raised their two daughters and a droop of basset hounds in Lebanon, New Hampshire. An Accredited Clinical Social Worker, Ron worked as a psychiatric social worker, or “State Lady Man,” for the New Hampshire Department of Children and Youth Services for eight years.
After four years as a psychiatric social worker for the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, Ron became Team Leader of the Vietnam Veterans Outreach in New Haven, Connecticut. He and Anne then moved to Wells, Maine, where Ron worked as a supervisory psychiatric social worker for the State of Maine Bureau of Public Health until he retired in 2010.
Ron published articles in professional journals and his essay, “Soldier Dog,” appeared in “Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover’s Soul.” Throughout his career, Ron imparted knowledge and wisdom in his true calling as a teacher for Community College of Vermont-Upper Valley in White River Junction, VT, Hesser College in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce University in Ringe, New Hampshire.
In his spare time, Ron was an avid reader who raised and showed basset hounds. He was passionate about politics and protecting animals and their habitats. His dry humor and quick wit charmed almost all who met him, and the loss of his unwavering love, loyalty, and larger than life personality leaves an immeasurable hole.
Ron is pre-deceased by his parents and brother Michael St. James. He leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Anne St. James; two daughters, Terri-lee Couture and Michelle St. James; three grandsons, Ryan, Justin, and Devin Couture; three sisters, Donna Sullivan, Laurel St. James-Long, and Linda St. James; one brother, Robert St. James; and several nieces and nephews.
There will be a gathering to celebrate Ron’s life by sharing and hearing stories of his exploits on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, from 1-3pm at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells.
Should friends wish, memorial donations can be made to The Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 43, 46 Holland Road, West Kennebunk, ME, 04094 or The Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, P.O. Box 479, Lewiston, ME, 04243-0479.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Ron’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, PO Box 910, Wells, ME 04090.