On Sunday, Maine lost a man of kindness, leadership and vision, the Honorable Ed Legg. Ed passed away suddenly Sunday, and left a devoted wife, Ann, four children, several grandchildren, and more colleagues and friends than I can enumerate.

He was our friend, neighbor, former representative and our conscience. He always cut through the much to determine the essentials of any issue and was a great representative for all the people of Maine, regardless of party affiliation.

The Texas accent rightfully lead people to conclude Ed was “from away.” But Ed’s heart was in Maine through and through, and he knew more about the history, the players and the issues of Maine than most people whose pedigrees go back several centuries. Ed would tackle the genesis of an issue, introduce the folklore, present the colorful characters and always render a well-founded opinion of what it all meant.

His insight and sense of the absurd and the essential taught us something new or unusual and always enlightened us.

I will miss Ed. He had an upbeat attitude, a good story, unique vision and was a mentor to many of us. Somewhere in heaven there is a great lecture about Maine being given, with a wry Texan yarn thrown in.

Thank you, Ed, for the many great years we had with you. You will never be forgotten.

Diane Denk,

Kennebunk