Dillan Joseph Springer, 28, of Belfast and Bangor, died on Saturday, April 18, 2020 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

He was born November 17,1991, in Lincoln, Maine, son of Amy-Jo Frenette.

Dillan had a warm smile and playful spirit and was loved and respected by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He had a passion for helping others and readily expressed his affection and gratitude for family members, friends, and co-workers. Dillan was strong, worked out regularly, loved being out in the sun, going to the beach, playing volleyball, swimming and sailing. He loved riding his motorcycle and was excited to travel to new places and see the world.

Dillan listened to music all the time, loved going to concerts, was learning to play guitar, and sang joyfully while driving. He was good with kids and animals and loved his cat “Slim.” Dillan loved getting his haircut, was always hungry for good food, was fun to be with and easy to love.

Dillan’s early life was difficult — as a teen he became addicted to opiates, left school, lived on his own, and was in and out of jail for drug-related offenses. In 2014, while at the Reentry Center in Belfast, Dillan earned his GED and, with support from Restorative Justice volunteers, began to explore the wider community and consider other options for his adult life.  

From 2014 to 2019 Dillan lived in Belfast, nourished by the love and support of “Mama Dow,” her extended family, and a welcoming community. He worked as a server at the Lobster Pound, The Neighborhood, The Hoot, and Bell the Cat restaurants, then as a funeral attendant for Riposta Funeral Home. His employers and co-workers respected and appreciated his considerate handling of difficult situations and his dependability, forthrightness and loyalty.  

Dillan began participating in a 12 Step program while living in Belfast. Like many, his path toward recovery was bumpy. He was fortunate to have the stern, steady guidance of his probation officer, Ruth Fethke, to help him navigate rough spots along the way. As Dillan matured and gained self-confidence, he allowed himself to trust the possibility that he could have a healthy future, with options for where to live and work and opportunities for exploration and growth.

In 2019, Dillan moved to Bangor to live at Oxford House with other men in recovery from addiction. With guidance from a very dedicated sponsor and the loving support of his Fellowship friends, he took on the work of self-reflection, reading, writing, and sharing the insights he gained as he worked through the 12 Steps. Dillan completed his first round of the 12 steps in the winter of 2020 and was nearing his first celebration of a year clean from all mind- and mood-altering substances. He was motivated by and dedicated to personal and spiritual growth as well as to serving others. Dillan was a committed member of his home group; his creativity was on display in the flyers he made to help get the word out to others who were in need of support. He was active in service work and was serving as a sponsor to other men in recovery at the time of his death.

While living in Bangor Dillan was employed at Longhorn Steakhouse where he was well loved by his co-workers and clients. Dillan’s kindness, joy and integrity shown through in all that he did.

Dillan is survived, loved and will be dearly missed by his mother, Amy-Jo Frenette and husband Joseph Frenette; brother, Richard Lee, sister, Harley-May Lee, step-sister, Jazmin Frenette; Robert and Kristin Lee and children Robbie, Thomas and November; aunts Claudia and Amy; uncles Brian and Randy; cousins Ally, Jade, Jared, Crissi, Bradi, and Randy Jr, among others; grandfather, Vern Lemieux (Pappy) and grandmother Roxanne Springer.

He is predeceased by grandfather Randolph M Springer, Grandmother Beverly Lemieux (Nana) and cousins, uncles and friends he loved. As well, Dillan will always be remembered and held in love by the family that he built as his world opened up into adulthood: Juliane Dow and her son Tadesh, Dillan’s sponsor and mentor Jimmy, Dillan’s soul mate Ingrid, his trusted friends Jeremy, Tyler, Kyle and Jen, his lovely new girlfriend, Kelsey, and the many many others, unnamed, whose lives enriched his and whom he touched with his bright, kindhearted spirit.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, once COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.