Alfred Ockenfels, obituary

Tue, 01/16/2018 - 11:45am

ROCKPORT - Alfred Ockenfels, 72, affectionately known as ‘The Chief’, passed away peacefully, Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the Maine Medical Center in Portland. 

Born in 1945 in Germany, his family subsequently immigrated to the United States. Alfred discovered and fell in love with the coast of Maine while serving as a pilot for Down East Airlines.

Enlisting in the U.S. Army, Alfred served during the Vietnam era. Returning to civilian life, he was a graduate of Daniel Webster College and the University of Maine. Years later, he served as a police ambassador for the State Department in both Afghanistan and Iraq.  In addition, he was a graduate of the 154th FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Alfred served as Chief of Police of Rockland where he managed a department of 35 employees and worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years. During his tenure as chief, Alfred implemented and executed the largest community-based police program in the state. 

Throughout his career, Alfred received numerous awards from several governors and U.S. attorneys.    

Alfred was an active member of the Rockland School Board, Knox County Budget Committee, Knox County Airport Advisory Commission and the Rockland Area Arts Program. He also served as a senior consultant for the Washington, D.C.-based government relations and public affairs firm, The Chisholm Group. In recent years, Alfred worked as a substitute teacher for local schools. 

Alfred was very proud of his volunteer work as a therapy dog handler with his beloved dog, Taser. Once a week, Ockenfels and Taser, his German shepherd, could be seen visiting the patients at Pen Bay Medical Center. 

Alfred is survived by his beloved daughter, Kristen Ockenfels; his partner, Kathleen Ryan, of Rockport; and many special friends with a list too long to publish.  

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.  

To share a memory or condolence with the Ockenfels family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.