Leon Gorman: Tributes pour in from across the country; flagship store to close for his memorial
COURTESY / L.L.BEAN
Tributes have poured in for Leon Gorman, and L.L.Bean will take the unusual move of closing its Freeport stores during his memorial service on Sept. 13.
Leon Gorman’s passing Thursday triggered heartfelt tributes and childhood memories of him and the L.L.Bean brand from across the country. L.L.Bean also ran a short "In Memoriam" on its website.
The company's stores in its headquarters town of Freeport, known for being open 24/7 year-round, will be closed during the memorial service from 8 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Sept. 13, company spokesperson Carolyn Beem told Mainebiz. She added that the store was closed only twice before voluntarily, for short periods for services for L.L. Bean and President John F. Kennedy.
For many people, from public figures to those who live in or visited Maine, Gorman’s death carries symbolic and personal meaning.
“The first time I went to the L.L.Bean store in Freeport, Maine, was right before Christmas in 1967,” wrote Washington Post correspondent Kevin Sullivan. “My family had just moved to Brunswick, the next town over, and the first thing I noticed was that almost every kid in my third grade class wore the same brown leather moccasins or the same leather-and-rubber boots.”
Sullivan said he never met Leon Gorman, “but I’m sad for his death. My dad died recently at age 87. Now that he’s gone, and my mom is moving, Bean’s and Brunswick and my old home in Maine suddenly feel a little farther away.”
"With the death of Leon Gorman, Maine has lost a true visionary, business leader and philanthropist. Leon was dedicated to Maine and all that is good about our state," Former Gov. John McKernan said in a compilation of tributes by the Associated Press.
Added Gorman’s daughter, Jennifer Wilson: "Leon was a larger-than-life figure in my world growing up. He was my dad, yet his life was closely intertwined with the company he built, nurtured and loved. Not surprisingly, the personality traits that describe our company fit my Dad to a tee. Honest, trustworthy, dependable, loyal, friendly, an experienced guide, sense of humor, respectful, outdoor oriented, authentic, vigorous and environmentally aware."
In a compilation of comments from Mainers in the Portland Press Herald, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said, “Over his lifetime, Leon Gorman benefited the people of our state in so many ways. Under his leadership, L.L.Bean saw incredible growth, which raised the profile of Maine internationally and created thousand of good-paying jobs. He was a truly generous member of the community as well. He not only supported many worthy causes with his philanthropy, but also frequently volunteered at places like Preble Street without thought of publicity or recognition. Down-to-earth, compassionate and an incredibly hard worker, Leon loved Maine and it showed in his generosity and commitment to our state.”
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments