UNION – Brian Lyle Cramer, 41, died unexpectedly of natural causes while on his way to work early Nov. 19, 2012.

Born in Portland June 2, 1971, he was the son of Lyle B. and Janice Blethen Cramer. Brian grew up in Westbrook, where he attended local schools and was a 1989 graduate of Westbrook High School. While at Westbrook High, he was an accomplished trombonist in the marching band and jazz band. He was a member of the chorus, ran indoor track and was involved in theater productions. During his freshman year, with his twin brother Bruce, he earned the Eagle Scout Award, presented by Boy Scouts of America Troop 81 in Westbrook.

For several summers, he worked as a life guard at the Westbrook Community Swimming Pool. Brian was also an active member of the First Baptist Church in Westbrook.

In the fall of 1989, Brian began studies and campus life at the University of New Hampshire, where he was a charter member of the honors band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, and a member of the UNH marching band. He also traveled abroad with the UNH jazz band. Brian graduated with the class of 1993, having earned a bachelor's degree in music education.

For the next several years, Brian served as a music teacher at Dirigo High School in Dixfield.

He later pursued his passion of sailing, and crewed aboard several schooners, including Victory Chimes. During this same period, Brian earned his captain's license and purchased his own sailing vessel, a skipJack named Abbie Ann.

For the past two years, Brian has been employed with Fisher Engineering in Rockland.

Brian completed a term as a Union Town Selectman and was presently a member of the Union Appeals Board. He was also a member of the Peoples United Methodist Church in Union.

For the past two years he sang for the Boars Head Festival at Rockland Congregational Church as a Magi. This year he was a member of the Adas Yoshuron Synagogue Choir.

A devoted and loving father, Brian had two children, Abigail Ann Cramer and Jack Brian Cramer, with his former wife, Karen Compton, all of Portland. Brian is also survived by his parents of Union; his twin brother, Bruce J. Cramer and his partner, James D. Gaddis, of Westbrook; his partner, Suzanne M. Winchenbach of Camden; his paternal grandmother, Georgia Durkee of Camden; his aunts and uncles, Jean Leavitt of Topsham, Keith and Susan Cramer of Union, Johnna Brazier of Dedham, William and Susan Blethen of Falmouth, Joyce and Wayne Raychard of Mombassa, Kenya, and Rand Blethen of Sagi, Brazil; as well as many cousins.

Family and friends are invited to visit Monday, Nov. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Peoples United Methodist Church in Union, where a celebration of his life will be held Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Union.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lift Fund, c/o Peoples United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 105, Union, ME 04862.

To share a memory or story with Brian's family, visit his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland.