'We will not see his like again': Kittery mourns longtime Town Councilor Frank Dennett

Ian Lenahan, Portsmouth Herald
·3 min read

KITTERY, Maine — Officials in Maine’s oldest town are mourning the loss of Frank Dennett, a decades-long veteran of the Kittery Town Council who died late last month at the age of 83.

A 1956 graduate of R.W. Traip Academy, Dennett served on Kittery’s governing body for over 29 years, a self-stated conservative voice on the seven-member council. Dennett’s dive into the town’s political sphere came in 1989, and his final term on the council concluded in 2018.

Dennett, born in Portsmouth in August 1938, died on July 30, according to his obituary.

Frank Dennett at a Kittery Town Council meeting in 2018. Dennett served on the council for 29 years.
Frank Dennett at a Kittery Town Council meeting in 2018. Dennett served on the council for 29 years.

“Kittery lost one of its elders,” Town Manager Kendra Amaral remarked at Monday’s meeting of the Town Council.

Having come onto the scene as Town Manager in late 2016, Amaral worked with Dennett for his final two years as a council member. Even after his time on the body ended, however, Amaral noted Dennett would assist her in drafting town ordinances, never shying away from offering his feedback and edits.

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“I will say that Frank was very generous with his expertise, his input and his time,” she stated.

Frank Dennett, who served 29 years on the Kittery Town Council, died on July 30, 2022. In this photo, Dennett holds up his old Town Council packet folder, which is now on display in Kittery Town Hall on Rogers Road.
Frank Dennett, who served 29 years on the Kittery Town Council, died on July 30, 2022. In this photo, Dennett holds up his old Town Council packet folder, which is now on display in Kittery Town Hall on Rogers Road.

Two terms shy of tallying the same length of time spent on the Kittery Town Council was Jeffrey Thomson, a fellow staple of the council for decades who ended his tenure at the end of his term last November. Beginning in the 1970s, Thomson spent a total of 24 years on the Town Council.

Thomson offered a few memories of Dennett, a Kittery Point resident, at Monday’s council meeting, remembering that the late councilor would drop by Thomson’s father’s town grocery store in the 1950s. Equipped with emptied, cleaned bottles, Dennett would collect nickels for returning the bottles, Thomson said.

Former Kittery Town Councilor Frank Dennett, center, at a Kittery Town Council meeting in 2018. Dennett died on July 30, 2022 at the age of 83.
Former Kittery Town Councilor Frank Dennett, center, at a Kittery Town Council meeting in 2018. Dennett died on July 30, 2022 at the age of 83.

“I’m sure he probably still had some of those nickels even as he aged,” Thomson said.

Despite differing on national politics, Thomson recalled meetings with Dennett in the late leader’s office to discuss local issues and listen to each other’s opinions. In 2004, Thomson was asked by Dennett to serve as his chosen citizen representative on a screening committee tasked with interviewing finalists for the Kittery Town Manager position.

“We were fortunate enough to witness his public service, and I learned a lot from him,” Thomson said. “He served the community with class and distinction and frugality. I’m sure we will not see his like again.”

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For 50 years, Dennett, who received a history degree from Nasson College in 1960, worked as an insurance agent in town at the William E. Dennett Agency before retiring in 2010. Dennett’s obituary notes he was active in numerous masonic organizations and was an amateur radio operator.

Frank Dennett (far left), who spent 29 years serving on the Kittery Town Council, died on July 30, 2022 at the age of 83. Dennett is seen here with numerous former councilors, current Town Council member Jeffrey Pelletier (third from left) and Town Manager Kendra Amaral (fourth from right).
Frank Dennett (far left), who spent 29 years serving on the Kittery Town Council, died on July 30, 2022 at the age of 83. Dennett is seen here with numerous former councilors, current Town Council member Jeffrey Pelletier (third from left) and Town Manager Kendra Amaral (fourth from right).

Current Town Council vice chairperson George Dow commented that Dennett was never one to shy away from challenging the viewpoints of others.

“It was great, and it enabled me (while) sitting on the council to learn more, to think more. He never had a problem with challenging and having good, open discussion on your thoughts as well as his own,” Dow said. “He was just a great person and I certainly know he will be missed.”

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Dennett is survived by his wife, Janet, his daughter Katherine Dennett, his son Frank Dennett and daughter-in-law, Molly, and his brother Peter Dennett. The longtime councilor is also survived by his grandson, Andrew Dennett, granddaughter, Allison Dennett, his nephews Kevin Johnston and Keith Johnston, his nieces Mary Dennett and Rebecca Bergeron, and his sister-in-law, Jackie Johnston.

Dennett was predeceased by his parents, William E. and Lillian (Plummer) Dennett, sister-in-law Karen Dennett and brothers-in-law Kemp Johnston and Milton Johnston.

At his request, no visiting hours or services are being held.

Dennett’s obituary: seacoastonline.com/obituaries/pprt0269765

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Longtime Kittery ME resident, Town Councilor Frank Dennett mourned