On Friday, lifelong public servant and Maine Democratic Party stalwart Edwin Pert passed away at age 83.

“He was a friendly, jovial, kind person who was well liked by many, many people,” said Bronwen Tudor, who chairs the Sagadahoc County Democrats. “He was always involved in community activities wherever he found a place he could be useful.”

Pert was a familiar sight in Maine politics, serving at different times as a member of the state Legislature, the clerk for the Maine House of Representatives and selectman in Georgetown, among many other positions.

Pert was born in Bath in 1933. Graduating from Morse High School and then University of Maine in Orono, Pert would go on to represent Bath in the Maine House of Representatives. During that time he also served as the executive director of the Maine Democratic Party.

He also served as secretary of the Maine Senate from 1965-66.

Later in the 1970s, he was elected as clerk of the Maine House of Representatives and served in that position for 18 years.

While Pert retired from that position in 1992, he remained active in Midcoast communities, working with several committees in Georgetown, where he was named Citizen of the Year in 2003.

Other honors included an honorary doctorate in 1993 from Unity College and the Maine Women’s Lobby’s Integrity-Leadership-Vision Award in 1988.

“He continued to be active right up to this year, attending the local caucus and attending the Democratic State Convention as well,” said Tudor. “And he continued to mentor candidates long after he stopped working in Augusta, and he also played a role in Georgetown community life.”

Pert’s service was not limited to politics, having served for one tour in Korea as a public information officer for the U.S. Army.

Upon his return home, he

worked in Bath as a reporter for the Bath Daily Times — now The Times Record — and as news director for WMMS/WJTO Radio.

He also spent several years as executive director of the Maine Chapters of the March of Dimes and Arthritis Foundation, and was a notary public who presided over several marriages, according to his obituary.

According to his obituary, he enjoyed travel and “relished meeting new people and would extend his hand with a cheerful ‘Hi, I’m Ed Pert!’”

Visiting hours will be held at the Chocolate Church from 2-6 p.m. on Friday, with a celebration of his life following at 6. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in the name of “Edwin H. Pert” to any greater Bath, Georgetown or Maine charity.

nstrout@timesrecord.com