Leland J. Arris, Jr. ’73 died on November 26, 2023, in Palm City, Florida.

(The following was provided by Lindquist Funeral Home in November 26, 2023:)

Leland J. Arris, Jr. ’73

Leland John Arris, Jr. of Freeport, ME, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes in his Palm Bay, FL, home on November 26, 2023. Born to Elizabeth “Betty” and Leland “Bucky” Arris, Sr., on November 4, 1950, in Portland, ME, he was predeceased by his father in 1999 and former spouse, Heidi Gage, in 2017.

He is survived by his mother; wife Ana Saybe Arris; children Elizabeth Yancelson (husband Daniel), Leland John Arris III (wife Mia), Joseph Arris (spouse Arynne Barnes) and Dominic Arris; their mother Marion Acheson-Silver; his stepchildren Nill, Luis, and Ariana Saybe, Kenneth and Elizabeth Drelich; and beloved grandsons Thomas Manuel, Dominic Alexander Jr., and James Conrad. Leland also leaves behind siblings Diane Dorrington, Gary Arris, Mary Burnham, Leo Arris, Delbert Arris, Leatrice Diconzo, and Granville Arris, their spouses, and many nieces and nephews.

Lee Arris (aka “John”) graduated from Freeport High School and earned his B.A. from Bowdoin College (’73). He clerked in Washington, D.C., before beginning his career in education, during which he served as teachers’ union president and Fulbright Scholar in 2003. After retiring from teaching, he focused on natural resource management as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Freeport Sewer District, Town Councilman, and eventually the plant manager for Freeport Sewer District.

His last years were his happiest. He proclaimed his marital joy with Ana to everyone who listened, deepened his faith in God, delighted in spending time with his grandsons, and enjoyed escaping to sunny Florida.