Pam Chamberlin

Special Contributor

Ira Chamberlin thought when his son Scott picked him and his friend Roberta up on Saturday, Aug. 25, they were just going to his home in Windham for a cook-out with the grandchildren who were here visiting. Little did he know there would be some 30 family members and friends waiting to surprise him with a birthday celebration!

Despite the hot weather, surprise Ira they did!

There was plenty of food, drink and fun to go around. Daughter-in-law Pam was putting together a Memory-Book so as guests arrived they filled out pages with questions of how they knew Iram, their favorite thing about him and favorite memory with him. Three great ways to celebrate his 85th and if they could give him anything at all what would it be. This proved to be a lot of FUN!! I am sure he will enjoy reading this book for a long time. Some guests enjoyed cooling off in the Chamberlin’s pool too! Ira being a farmer most of his life, the cake was decorated with a barn, cow, tractor, and the farmer had a Red Sox Cap – Ira’s favorite team!

The guests included his son Scott and daughter-in-law Pam of Windham, grandson Devin & Annik of Bristol, Conn. with great-granddaughter Grace Ann, grandson Brian and Tara of Augusta, Pam’s mother Pat Gervais of Windham, Roberta LaCroix of Westbrook, sister-in-law Jeannette Greer, niece Linda & Steve Morris, Portland, nephew Tim & Sue Greer, Peter & Debbie Bernier of Windham, nephew Charles & Maureen Greer of Cape Elizabeth, great-niece Traci Greer of South Portland, Michele Greer with Allie & Cameron, Keith Cummings, Lee Wormell all of Westbrook, great-niece Rhonda Morin and Don Strong of Canaan, niece Genora Douglass of Springfield, Vt., Hazel Haverville of New Hampshire.

After weeks of Scott & Pam gathering pictures of Ira’s 85 years, grandson Kevin put together a 16-minute slide show complete with music. There wasn’t a dry eye when it was over. Ira says it’s a birthday he will always remember!