Freeport–Stephen Lee Hazelton, 75, formerly of Brunswick and Topsham, passed away peacefully after a slow waltz with cancer September 21, 2018 at the Hawthorne House, Freeport.

Steve grew up in Topsham and later lived in Brunswick. Both towns were dear to his heart, as were his many friends in the area. He had his own apartments in Brunswick, under the supervision of Independence Association. Steve knew and remembered many people and ran into them everywhere. When he traveled to Arizona to visit a baseball training camp, he saw someone he knew from Brunswick. When he travelled to Nashville for the Fan Fare Music Festival, he suffered from heat exhaustion and went to the hospital, where the ER doctor, who happened to be a Bowdoin College graduate, remembered Steve. Whether he was in London or Boston, he always seemed to see people he knew. And remarkably he recognized people after 50 or more years, when physical changes often make people unrecognizable to others. He enjoyed clipping articles out of the local newspaper and sending them to the people involved. Sometimes he delivered them in person, enjoying making connections and giving people an extra copy of their wedding announcements or articles about their work promotions.

Steve was a member of the Brunswick High School Class of 1962, although he also attended reunions for the Class of 1963.  He loved his years at BHS, and was particularly proud to have been an Assistant Coach of the track team. He loved to attend sports events at both BHS and Bowdoin College, and usually walked to both.

After high school, Steve attended a vocational training program in Bangor.  He worked at Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick High School and Bowdoin College.

Steve is survived by his two sisters, Mary Hazelton and Anne Hazelton Vaughan and her husband Bob, as well as his niece Kate Vaughan, her husband Conor Byrne, nephew Sam Vaughan and his wife Ireen Schlaegel, and great nephew Charlie Byrne, great nieces Maeve Byrne and Josephine Vaughan and many cousins.  He was pre-deceased by his parents, Professor Paul Hazelton and Jane Hazelton.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date in October at the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick.  Contributions in Steve’s memory may be made to Independence Association, 87 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick, Maine 04011.  Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.