Joseph Gordon Burgess

ROSSVILLE, Md. – Joseph Gordon Burgess, 75, of Monmouth, and lately of Nottingham, Md., died Friday morning, March 4, 2022. He died peacefully in the presence of his son and daughter, at Medstar Franklin Square Hospital in Rossville, Md.

“Gordon” as he was known, was born Nov. 26, 1946, in Lewiston. He was the son of Bernard C. Burgess and Anita (Bergeron) Burgess. He attended Leeds elementary schools before high school and graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1966. While in high school, Gordon played baseball and football for the Mustangs. Gordon was known for his power at the plate while on the diamond and his imposing physical presence in the backfield on the gridiron.

After graduation he enlisted in the Army, serving for four years. He married Tobey Fairchild in 1970, the daughter of Thomas and Alice Fairchild, and settled on Academy Road in Monmouth.

He was employed by the Albany Felt Company, later Globe Albany and finally Tex-Tech Industries of North Monmouth. He worked there until his retirement in 2008. He was a member of the Monmouth Police Force achieving the rank of lieutenant before leaving the force in the early 1980s.

He was a long-time member of the Cochnewagon Trailblazers Snowmobile club, holding a number of offices including president and treasurer for a number of years. He loved sports and was an active member in the Monmouth youth athletics, coaching Little League baseball and softball for many years. He also played in a number of men’s softball teams throughout his life. Serving as a player-manager for teams in Monmouth and Winthrop before health problems forced him to become a spectator. He was a dedicated Red Sox fan and spent many hours trying to convert his friends who were Yankees fans, to his beloved Red Sox.

He loved fishing, hunting, and often going up to a special camp in Madrid. He taught his children to love camping and the outdoors. He would frequently head ‘up north’ with one of his trusty canines over the years (Razz or Scout) for fishing excursions. He was a constant and ever-present supporter of his children in their lives. Rarely missing a game or event for either of them throughout their youth and high school lives. When grandchildren became active in sports, he would travel great distances, from Maine to Maryland, to attend their various sporting events and loved to be an animated supporter of their endeavors from the sidelines, or the stands. Gordon was predeceased by his parents, Bernard in 1971 and Anita in 2009; and several aunts, uncles and cousins and a very close friend, Jacqueline Prince of Monmouth.

Gordon is survived by his son, William and his wife Melissa (Perkins) Burgess of Monmouth, and his daughter, Kara (Burgess) and her husband Stuart Smith, of Nottingham, Md.; his four grandchildren, Moira Burgess of Wichita, Kan., Liam and Maeve Burgess of Monmouth, and Jackson Culpepper of Nottingham, Md.; as well as his bonus grandchildren Jackie, Lucy, Maura and Layla Smith of Nottingham, Md.; his ‘almost’ sisters Cheryl Bubier and Candy Campbell, both of Auburn; his former wife and friend, Tobey Burgess of Monmouth and his close friend Joan Gray of Saratoga, N.Y.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com

A memorial service will be held announced in the spring when the ground thaws, the water is running, and the baseballs are flying in the air. Interment Leeds Plains Cemetery, Plains Road, Leeds. Arrangements by BRAGDON-FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 707 Main St., Monmouth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gordon’s name to

Monmouth Athletic Boosters,

P.O. Box 303,

Monmouth, ME 04259 or

Spartan Warriors Baseball Club,

313 Powdersby Rd.,

Joppa, MD 21085

Joseph Gordon Burgess