Galen R. Sayward ’54 died on March 20, 2025, in Farmington, Maine.
Galen Robert Sayward ’54
(The following was provided by the Daily Bulldog on March 24, 2025:)
FARMINGTON – Galen Robert Sayward, 93, of 136 Troll Hagen Lane, Farmington, passed away peacefully Thursday morning at his home with his family at his side. Galen, affectionately known to many as “PA Troll” was born in Guilford, February 22, 1932, the son of Elmer Walter and Dorothy Margaret Steward Sayward, and received his education in Guilford schools until transferring to Farmington High School during his junior year. He was a 1954 graduate of Bowdoin College and received his master’s degree in teaching science at Colby College. He served in the Security Agency of the US Army and was stationed in Japan during the 1950s. Following his college graduation and his honorable discharge, he taught at Leavitt Institute.
While there he met Virginia Elaine Maxwell and during his next teaching job at New Sharon High School, he and Ginny were married. He also taught at Rangeley, Farmington, and later Mt. Blue High School, where at one time or another, he coached one-act plays, basketball, baseball, track, cross county running, football, and his greatest passion – skiing.
After his retirement from teaching, he continued his involvement in the world of skiing by coaching for the Eastern Ski Association; working as the executive director of the U.S. Ski Coaches Association in Park City, UT; developing with his son, Michael, Troll Valley Ski Touring Center and Disc Golf; becoming an International Ski Federation (FIS) Jumping official and judge; a FIS Technical Director for Cross Country as well as Nordic Combined, and National Director for Alpine. He was a member of the board of directors for the US Ski Association, which is the governing body for all ski events in the U.S. He worked as an official at both the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY, and the 2002 games in Salt Lake City, UT. Galen worked at events in Japan, Canada, Germany, Salt Lake, Lake Placid, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, as well as all over New England and New York.
Galen continued to coach the cross-country ski team at both Colby and Skowhegan High School. He and his son, Mike, started and coached the TNT program designed for middle school skiers, preparing them for future involvement with higher level competition.
He was a past president of the Farmington Ski club, the U.S. Coaches Association, Eastern Ski Association, Wilson Lake Country Club, SAD 39 Area Little League Football Association, Farmington Chamber of Commerce, and the Mt. Blue Credit Union. He was past commander of Pilgrim Commandry, Chairman of the USSA Nordic Combined Committee, member and former treasurer of the board of directors of the Cross-Country Ski Areas Association of American and regional chief official for the National Off-Road Biking Association.
He was awarded the Fritz Mittelstadt Award at the national U.S. Ski Association convention in Park City in 1994 for outstanding jumping officials in the United States. He was an Eagle Scout, a farm interpreter at the Norlands Living History Center, a member of Maine Lodge #20 AF and AM of Farmington, Franklin Chapter Pilgrim Commandry, and Old South Congregational Church in Farmington.
His most lasting achievements were helping lay the foundation of the successful Mt. Blue Skiing program and Troll Valley Campground and Disc Golf Center.
He is survived by his son, Michael J. Sayward, and his wife, Cherry of Farmington; daughter, Deborah L. Maxwell of Farmington; sister, Marcia Blake of Freeport; grandchildren, Seth and his wife, Meagan Sayward-Antognoni of Gardner, Kaylee and her spouse, Patti Keil of Randolph, Thea Sayward of California, Dalton Senosk of Portland, Deaken Maxwell of Farmington, and Joseph Maxwell of Farmington; his extended family on his predeceased’s wife, Virginia (Maxwell) Sayward; and his many nieces, nephews, great grandchildren and their families, and his many friends. He was predeceased by his son, Thomas Sayward in 1988; and his wife, Virginia, in 2020.