ROCKLAND — Thaxter R. Trafton, of Rockland, Maine, passed away in Camden with his wife, Linda, by his side on July 25, 2021, from complications of Lewy body disease. He was 84. 

Thaxter was born in Danforth, Maine on January 5, 1937, to Leone Fitzpatrick and Elton Trafton.

A graduate of Morse High School and Maine Central Institute, he earned his business degree from Husson College.

Thaxter was a competitive athlete, and his career as a teacher and coach at John Bapst High School kindled a lifelong passion for motivation and development of all he mentored. Throughout his personal and professional life, he nurtured the potential of those with whom he came in contact. This is underscored by the devotion of family and friends, and the legion of students, employees and acquaintances which attest to his leadership. He was an exceptional individual.

Thaxter became the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Bangor from 1965 until 1980, including five years as the Executive Director of Bass Park, which included the Bangor State Fair and Raceway operation and the overseeing the building of the Bangor Civic Center.

In 1980, he was named the Director of the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Arizona State Fair. During his tenure, he also served as the president of the Western Fairs Association. 

His lifelong affinity for sports was realized from 1985 to 1988 as president of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers, during which time he accomplished several notable NBA firsts in professional sports administration.

After serving as president of the RACAM amusement company in Phoenix, Arizona, he became the owner and president of Trafton & Associates, which operated the Santa Monica pier amusements and Shamrock Shows in southern California.  

Thaxter ventured back into professional sports, becoming the president of the International Basketball League, in Baltimore, Maryland. He then took the position of Chief Administrative Officer of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority in Oakland, California.

At the request of Governor John Baldacci, Thaxter returned to Maine in 2003, where he served first as the Director of Business Development in the Department of Economic and Community Development, then became Deputy Development Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development and lastly, served as the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development in 2011.

He served as the first Executive Director of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame starting in 2006. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, Maine Sports Hall of Fame, Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, Husson University Sports Hall of Fame, Maine Central Institute Sports Hall of Fame and the John Bapst Sports Hall of Fame.

For the past several years he has been affiliated with the Samoset Resort while residing in Rockland, Maine.

Thaxter is predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Blaine and John. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Linda Pinney Trafton. They were married in Alta Loma, California in 1993. He also leaves behind Mona Herbert Trafton, mother of his four children.

Thaxter is survived by his four children: Tony Trafton of Murrieta, California and his 4 children and 3 grandchildren; Teresa Armstrong and her husband Mark Armstrong of Woodbridge, California and their 4 children and 2 grandchildren; Mark Trafton and his life companion Shauna Yergensen of Las Vegas, Nevada and his 2 children; and Alan Trafton and his wife Jennifer of Lake Forest, California and their child.

He is also survived by his three stepchildren: Cynthia Hays of Livonia, Michigan and her 2 children: Matthew Pinney and wife Denyse of Solon, Ohio and their 2 children; and Andrew Pinney and wife Amy of Broadview Heights, Ohio and their 4 children.

He also leaves behind 5 great grandchildren. He will be fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Knox County Ballroom at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine on Sunday, October 3, 2021, from 1 - 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Thaxter’s honor to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame at P.O. Box 2, Cumberland, ME 04021 or online at mshof.com/donations.