Charles “Chuck” Spanger

SCARBOROUGH – Charles “Chuck” Spanger walked the world with a spring in his step, a song on his lips, and a strength of purpose few come to know. His purpose was to make the world better, and whether fighting for climate justice, coaxing forth his beautiful garden, or whipping a crowd into a raucous song or ball game, Chuck lived his purpose with joy and gusto.

Chuck held a deep love of nature and a keen sense of justice. Over the years, he turned his tireless activist energy from anti-war, civil rights and environmentalism, toward pro-democracy, human rights, fighting corporate power, and curing the climate crisis – most recently as co-founder of the Maine Chapter of Third Act, an organization of older Americans using generational power to safeguard the climate future. He brought earlier decades of community organizing experience to his climate work, along with a mingling of joyful enthusiasm and dogged determination that was infectious and rare. When needed (or just for fun), he would invoke “Sisu”, a term from his Finnish ancestry to describe unstoppable strength of purpose in the face of any obstacle. Chuck had Sisu. And he had a twinkle in his eye. He was always looking for an “in”, a spark, an opportunity to make a moment come more alive.

Music ran through Chuck’s life. If there was an excuse to sing, he was singing – including with his most recent a capella group, Maine Blend. If the music was danceable, he was dancing – right out of his seat. If there was work to be done, he was bringing his world-class whistle and unmatched “get ‘er done” energy. He instilled his passion for music in all his children and grandchildren who went on to become musicians and avid music lovers, themselves. (But no one has yet learned to work as hard as him.) Such was his enthusiasm to create those joyful musical moments that he started a homegrown, day-long, backyard music festival – dubbed “Chuckstock” by friends and family – that lives on today.

Chuck was a great grower of gardens. He was ambitious (wine grapes in Maine…?), creative (decorative gourds, y’all!), and tireless (even as a heart condition slowed him down this past spring, he doggedly got the tomatoes planted). When a stroke incapacitated Chuck in August, members of his beloved local men’s group tended his garden… Chuck’s work ethic meant long, hard work days, especially on the homestead, but he knew how to celebrate a job well done: a cold one, family, and his beloved Boston sports teams on the tv or radio. Few better ways to spend a New England night, are we right?

Chuck’s life here ended on Oct. 8, 2024, from complications following an August stroke.

He was surrounded by family and friends in his final days, sharing stories, singing, and encircling him in love.

Born in Lynn, Mass. on Nov. 17, 1944, and raised by Taimi Livermore, Carl Spanger, and step-father Donald Livermore, Chuck attended Lynn public schools and UMass, Amherst.

He is survived by his wife, Lee; his three children, Erika, Max and Alena; his grandchildren, Ursula, Georgia, John Iver and Evan; and his siblings, Steve, Don, Jan and Bub (Carl).

A celebration of his life will be held in Scarborough this summer.

Chuck taught us, his family, to stay playful, curious, and open-minded; to laugh loudly and speak truth to power; to lead with love and live with purpose. In the end, Chuck was pained that the assault on nature, justice, and his grandchildrens’ future continues. But he had a gritty hope that was inextinguishable – and indistinguishable from love. We can make it better, he knew. And for those he loved, he truly “left it all on the court” to make it so. That is the way to be and we will carry it onward.

We love you, Chuck, Dad, Grampy, Papa.

Rest in Power.

In lieu of flowers, Chuck’s

family encourages

(1) a donation to:

Maine Youth for

Climate Justice

(https://www.mycj.org/donate)

a group with which he collaborated, and

(2) getting involved!

Older folks, consider joining Third Act

(thirdact.org), your grandkids will appreciate it