Obituary

Sara Kittridge Montgomery, obituary

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 11:30am

LINCOLNVILLE — Sara Kittridge Montgomery, born Oct. 18, 1955, peacefully passed away Aug. 3, 2013, at her home on Norton Pond in Lincolnville, surrounded by her family and dear friends. Sara was born in Camden and was the daughter of Ann Stuart and David H. Montgomery. Sara was a pillar of strength and perseverance, and was a person who touched many, many people with her glowing spirit. Sara had a passion for living every moment to the fullest, whether she was summiting another mountain, skiing another slope, boating Penobscot Bay, traveling the world or star gazing over Norton Pond. Sara courageously battled cancer for 13 years. She is now at peace.

Sara was a native of Camden and a graduate of Camden-Rockport High School, Class of 1974, and the University of New Hampshire. Sara followed her father into the insurance field, starting her career in 1978 with The Hartford Insurance Company. Five years later, Sara came home to Camden to work with her dad at The Allen Agency Insurance.

As she developed her expertise and the company grew, Sara rose to the post of executive vice president of The Allen Agency, which is now Allen Insurance and Financial. She earned the respect of her colleagues and clients for her smart, friendly-yet-direct way of doing business. Sara was known for going out of her way to get a challenging job done right, and always with a smile.

As a certified insurance counselor, she joined the Maine Insurance Agent Association's Young Agent committee and won the Young Insurance Agent of the Year Award. She also became the first woman president of the organization. Sara has served on the board or been president of the the YMCA; United Mid-Coast Charities; Camden Rotary Club, where she received the Paul Harris Fellow award; Douglas A. Thom Memorial Corp.; Megunticook Watershed Association; Camden Parking Committee; The Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation; as well as the Osprey Club. She has been the leading area fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life efforts. Sara is also the face of Ragged Mountain Area Redevelopment’s “A Mountain of Possibilities” Capital Campaign. In May 2012, Sara was honored as recipient of the Community Person of the Year award by the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Sara earned her "B" rating through the United States Pony Club, She was a member of Penobscot Pony Club, Camden-Rockport High School Ski Team, the Camden Yacht Club and the Megunticook Golf Club.

Sara was a colleague, leader and friend, and more, to so many.

There is so much more to Sara than her list of accomplishments. She was about the people and places she loved, always making sure to express her love and appreciation for them.

Sara is predeceased by her father; and her grandmother, Helen Greene Montgomery Hamilton. Sara is survived by her mother, Ann Stuart Montgomery; her sisters, Lee Montgomery and her husband, John Grose, and Holly M. Rutland and her husband, Jim Rutland; her AFS sister, Muyesser Selay Kinali of Istanbul, Turkey; her niece, Eve Greene Marden and her partner, Wade Smith. Sara is also survived by her partner, Diana Coleman; and her dear friends, Erin Flanagan and Vicki Harner.

A celebration of life is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013 at 3 p.m. at the Camden Snow Bowl.

Memorial gifts in her memory may be made to the Ragged Mountain Recreation Area Foundation, P.O. Box 438, Camden, ME 04843.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Camden. Condolences and memories may be shared with the Montgomery family by visiting their book of memories online at Long Funeral Home.