ROCKLAND — Dr. Bruce Gorrie Stratton, 89, lost his battle with kidney failure on 9 February, 2021, and will be missed by all who knew this gentle dentist and long-term resident of Rockland, Maine.

Born September 2, the day after his mother’s birthday, in 1931, he was first of four children born to Dr. Rupert and Glena Gorrie Stratton, formerly of Beech Street.

Bruce abandoned his love of art and followed in his father’s footsteps, graduating from dental school at Tuft’s University, Boston, Massachusetts with his Doctor of Medical Dentistry in 1955. At that time he entered the U.S. Army where he served as a Captain, spending most of his service in Reykjavik, Iceland.

He returned to Rockland and began to practice dentistry with his father on Main Street before setting up his own long-standing dental office above the broadcasting offices of WRKD. As he parked behind the main street and took a short-cut through the radio station’s parking lot door to his office, he was often corralled to be the voice of commercials, jingles and occasional fund-raising radio auctions.

Bruce enjoyed music of all types but particularly barbershop. He had a rich baritone singing voice and his house on Talbot Avenue was often the venue of barbershop rehearsals, parties and social gatherings throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. Sandra played piano or organ and the laughter from those nights touched many lives.

Dr. Stratton was known as the “painless dentist” in Rockland, a particular favourite with children and the squeamish, his manner was gentle and jocular, placing patients at ease for whatever dental work was necessary. He was often accosted on the street, in restaurants with his family, in holiday locations, by satisfied patients who happily attributed their beaming smiles to Dr. Stratton’s finesse and gentle artistry. He was proud to be instrumental in the passing of laws allowing the fluoridation of drinking water that led to less tooth decay in Knox County.

On 9 April, 1960, he married Sandra Hallowell Heal, of Rockland, and became the proud step-father of Sandra’s daughter, Andrea, and purchasing the family residence on Talbot Avenue. Bruce took great pride as second owner of the property, restoring and preserving the large Victorian house over the nearly-60 years he and Sandra resided there. In June of 1961, Sandra gave birth to Dori Jean Stratton. During Dori’s high school years, and through the acquisition of a cottage on Crawford Lake in Union in the late 60s, Bruce was known for his hospitality, willingness to drive the boat for anyone wanting to try their skill at water-skiing, and could be seen playing “the spoons” to the energetic guitar music and singing of Dori’s folk choir friends, during longsummer evenings in the 1970s.

Bruce was not known for his love of travel but his two overseas trips made lasting impressions on him. In 1968, Sandra talked him into flying to London where he was transformed by his visit to Carnaby Street and his exposure to the latest fashion, mini-skirts and go-go boots on the young women. He spoke of that one experience with a wistful smile for years. And when Dori moved to teach in Australia in 1989, she declared the earth would move before she expected to see him in Sydney. Indeed, Bruce and Sandra touched down on December 26, 1989, at the precise moment of the devastating Newcastle earthquake, an event that made the front page of the local Courier Gazette. Fourteen hours on the leg of the journey from Los Angeles to Sydney ruined him for travel, however, and Bruce and Sandra subsequently limited their travel to several trips to the Bahamas and to visit friends in Florida or New Orleans.

Bruce enjoyed being a grandfather to Andrea’s sons, Scott Robert Norris and Christopher Wayne Norris as well as their children. He was a proud and loving uncle to his brother, Pete’s (John Rupert Stratton) sons, Courtney and Andrew; his sister Patricia Peterson’s boys, Christopher, Jason and Jonathon, and his deceased sister, Diddy’s (Jean Carol) children, Debbie Read Johnson and Greg Read.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sandra H. Stratton; his daughter Dori, and her husband Mark Oliver, of Katoomba, NSW Australia; step-daughter, Andrea Norris and her partner Robert Lindsey, of Mansfield, Massachusetts; his sister, Patricia Peterson of Connecticut; brother, John (Peter) Stratton, of Florida; his wife’s sister, Cynthia Robinson and her husband, Edgar, of Rockland; as well as several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.

To share a memory or story with Bruce’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.