ROCKPORT — Rockport's outgoing Select Board member Charlton Ames arrived the town office Tuesday afternoon, June 2, to help bestow this year's annual town report dedication on a worthy citizen — only to find out he was the one being honored. 

He was startled, but with his usual gracious demeanor, deflected, and then accepted the honor. His daughter, Alexandra Lawrence, was on hand to celebrate — and surprise — her father.

At the same gathering, the town also honored Onni Christian Kangas, 88, who passed away unexpectedly in Naples, Fla., Nov. 7, 2014, surrounded by his six children and two of his grandchildren. 

The In Memoriam is a special part of the town’s annual report, which assembles a year-in-the-life of a municipality, and is much more than a fiscal summation of a municipality. In Rockport, the town report represents and highlights all the work the community accomplished, and every year features the cover art of Anne Kilham, another longtime Rockport citizen and friend.

Kristian, Janice and Eric Kangas were at the town ceremony to join in celebrating Onni, as were town officials William Chapman, Rick Bates, Stacey Parra, Linda Greenlaw, Ginny Lindsey, Melody Sainio and James Francomano.

Born June 19, 1926, in Rockland, Onni was the sixth child of Aino and Christian Kangas. He attended Rockland schools, graduating as valedictorian of Rockland High School in 1944. He was elated to attend the 2013 graduation at Oceanside High School (the former Rockland District High School), where his granddaughter Vieno Carter graduated as valedictorian and referenced him in her valedictory speech. He enjoyed reuniting with classmates every summer and was proud to have attended his 70th class reunion this past August.

Following high school, Onni served with the Navy Seabees in Guam during World War II as a secretary in the ABCD Unit. After Guam, he attended Boston University College of Liberal Arts and Medical School and interned at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He did post-graduate study in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and served a residency at the Massachusetts Memorial Hospital, graduating from medical school in 1954. He began his practice as an ophthalmologist in West Newton, Mass., while on the staff of the Boston University School of Medicine as an instructor in ophthalmology. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology. Returning home to Maine in 1963, he practiced at Knox Hospital and then Penobscot Bay Medical Center, as well as at Togus VA. He retired in 1993.

Jan. 21, 1955, Onni married the love of his life, Joan Hodgson (Kangas), and together they raised six children on the farm in West Rockport. Dr. Kangas owned a large piece of property on Route 17, including significant frontage on Rocky Pond. When Kenneth McKinley was scoutmaster for the local scout troop, Onni's grandson was a member of the troop. The troop did a fair amount of camping at that time, usually traveling out of the area, but Dr. Kangas kindly allowed them to use his land for camping and to hold outdoor meetings, which included developing some campsites on the land, using the small cabin there to store some things, and storing a couple of canoes on the property as well. In return, the boys did some brush clearing and generally spruced up the land. It was very nice for the troop, because it was a four season spot where they could do canoeing in the warmer months, ice fishing in the colder months, and camping year round. He visited a couple of times, and seemed genuinely pleased that the beautiful spot was being used by the boys. He did not "donate" the land to the troop, but told them to treat it like it was theirs. It was a very generous gesture, and allowed many boys in the area to have enhanced opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Picture and story of the life of Onni Christian Kangas courtesy of the Kangas family, Stacey Parra, and Legacy Options, LLC.