FREEPORT – Michael Edmund Saucier passed away in July after 73 years of a reflective, quietly joyful life. Born between Christmas and New Year, Michael was the oldest of Edmund E., Jr. and Joanne I. (Joler) Saucier’s ten surviving children.

After degrees from Waterville High School and Boston College, Michael graduated from the University of Maine School of Law. His admission to the Maine Bar preceded his joining the state’s public prosecutorial offices for six years. He then entered private practice, primarily for civil rights, municipal liability, product liability and family relations as a practicing member of the Maine and New Hampshire bars. During his career, he appeared in more than 100 civil and criminal jury trials with over 60 combined appearances before the Maine Law Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston.

Michael’s thoughtful approach to trial and appellate advocacy was recognized through his long service on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s Rules of Evidence Advisory Committee. The reputability of his practice was acknowledged with an appointment to and service on the Professional Ethics Commission of the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.

Michael contributed his time to both the professional and broader community. He chaired the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG) and then became National Chair in 1994 for the Washington D.C.-based Coalition for Juvenile Justice. He co-authored the Commentary that appeared with the Juvenile Code as a member of the Maine JJAG. His advocacy for the national organization was recognized by his alma mater with a Boston College Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Law. He also served as a member and chair of the Criminal Law Advisory Committee to the Maine Legislature and as an officer on the Board of Directors of the Cleaves Law Library in Portland. He served for many years on the governing board of First Parish in Portland Unitarian Universalist Church.

A life-long and capable athlete, Michael enjoyed playing baseball, football and hockey while growing up in Waterville. He started skiing while in college and found great pleasure in heading to the top of Sugarloaf and then making the long run down to the base lodge. He played tennis, racquetball, and squash as well as hockey during law school. Later, he enjoyed his time sailing the Maine coast with family and friends. An alumnus of the Portland Industrial hockey league, he sought out various indoor and outdoor venues on skates, including Snow Pond with family in Belgrade; the Kent’s Hill Rink for a significant birthday bash; the canal in Ottawa, Canada; Rockefeller Center; Boston Common; “The Whale” at Yale University; the Natural History Museum rink in London at Christmas; and most recently the Royal Victoria Park in Bath, England.

Michael’s joy came from joining extended family gatherings, building and maintaining home garden paths, golfing anywhere in Maine especially with a brother or two, listening to live music performances from classical to fiddle, and painting the Maine landscape. His keen sense of humor charmed family, friends and colleagues, who shared delight in his sudden broad smiles and understood his nature in the kindnesses he showed them.

Michael is survived by his spouse of 45 years, Paula Craighead, and their child Jillian; also by siblings, Jon (Nancy), Sandra Bard (Andrew Heckler), Cathy Kershner (Dirk), Daniel (Brenda), James (Jean), Peter, Patty Bearce and Paul (Cindy); 15 nieces and nephews, Matthew (Erika), Andrew ( Kate), Kelley Estrella (Norwin), Joshua Kershner (Angie), Britney Michaud (Jake), Liza, Lexi (Wade Cooper), Kelsey, Jodi Chase (Jared), Sarah Deslandes (Chris), Christopher Jacques (Lexi Lint), Aaron, Jericah Hart (Cooper), Abigail Lauter (Jay), and Nathan Surette (Saige Brickett), and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. Both parents, sister Susan Surette, and brother-in-law John Bearce predeceased him.

A private memorial meditation was held in August at Spurwink Church in Cape Elizabeth. His memory may be honored with support for a Maine youth hockey program and, for his legal colleagues, by becoming a member of the Cleaves Law Library in Portland.