Walter Sargent (1948-2013)

WILTON – Walter Sargent, 64, of Wilton, died unexpectedly, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, at his home.

He was born on Oct. 3, 1948 in Quincy, Mass., a son of, Eliot and Anne (Bigney) Sargent. He attended Weymouth schools and went on to attend the University of San Francisco where he earned his bachelor and master’s degrees in history. While working on those degrees, Walter owned and operated The Record Factory in San Francisco, CA. He later moved to Minnesota where he attended the University of Minnesota earning his PhD in 2002.

In 2001, Walter married Bonnie Hartman Hannaman in Stillwater, Minn. They lived in St Paul, while Walter taught at Winona State University. In 2005, they moved to Wilton, Maine when Walter accepted a teaching position at the University of Maine at Farmington. Walter was a beloved member of the college among both students and faculty alike.

Beyond of his teaching duties at the University of Maine Farmington, Walter also chaired the Curriculum and Academic Policy (CAP) Committee and was a member of the board of directors at the Norlands Living History Center in Livermore. He was an active scholar and presented papers at the meetings of the American History Association (AHA), the New England History Association and other professional organizations. In recent years Walter developed an interest in the history of Turkey. A presentation at an international conference on Globalization and Civilization of the Ottoman Empire in Corum, Turkey in the fall of 2011 led to publication in a highly distinguished Turkish social sciences journal. He was the co-editor of the highly-regarded book War and Society in the American Revolution: Mobilization and Home Fronts.

He was a prolific reader and knowledgeable on boundless subjects besides his academic discipline with a wide range and eclectic interests. For all his intelligence, he was humble. His passion for baseball and music was ever present in his personal and academic life. His discipline was history – his subject was humanity.

Walter is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Wilton; son, Daniel Sargent, grand-daughter Viktoria, his fiancé Christina of Bend, OR; daughter, Nicole Rouse and her husband, Raymond of Sacramento, CA and grand-daughter Nola; step-children, Scott Hannaman of Key West, FL and children Marcus, Haley and Hannah; Sean Hannaman and his wife, Windy of Palmer, AK, children Riley and Carly; and Seth Hannaman and his wife, Kelsey of Anchorage, AK; siblings, David Sargent and his wife, Paula of Wakefield, MA; Suzanne Sargent and companion, Eric Root of Fryeburg, and Bonnie’s sisters; Becky, husband Guy Nadeau and Judy, husband Chuck Anway.

He was predeceased by his parents.

Words of condolence and tribute may be shared with Walter’s family and friends on his tribute wall at www.wilesrc.com.

Memorial services will be held noon Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 in the Nordica Auditorium in Merrill Hall (224 Main St., Farmington, ME) on the campus of the University of Maine at Farmington, with Rev. Timothy Walmer, officiating. Those planning on attending are encouraged to use the entrance on the rear of Merrill Hall located off Academy St. Gifts may be given in Walter’s memory to The Bonnie and Walter L. Sargent History Award Fund, University of Maine at Farmington, 242 Main St., Farmington, ME 04938, Attn: Pat Carpenter, Director of Gift Planning. Arrangements are in the care of the Wiles Remembrance Center, 136 High St., Wilton.