Kenneth A. Brinnick

Kenneth Brinnick passed away peacefully in his home in Mechanic Falls on November 30. He was 79.

Kenneth was born on March 12, 1946 to Ruth (Jachens) and Frederic Brinnick. He was raised in Westrook and graduated from Westbrook High School in 1964. He went on to get a Bachelor's Degree in psychology at Goddard College in Vermont in 1968.

He met Marilyn (Kearney) in 1990 and they were married in New Gloucester on June 15, 1991. They enjoyed taking road trips all over the country visiting museums and historical sites. One of his favorite places to visit was Baxter State Park. He loved hiking and taking pictures of the scenery and wildlife. 

He also was a dog lover and always had at least one dog in the house as well as cats and at one time he even had a pet racoon.

Kenneth was an avid musician and especially enjoyed playing the blues on the piano and guitar. He learned to play the accordion at a young age. He could play anything by ear as long as you could hum a few bars. He learned to play music while watching his father rehearse with the Presumpscot River Bottom Boys. He frequently sat at the piano and played with them.

When he moved to New Gloucester in 1972, he got a job at Pineland as a Wandering Minstrel. He would visit the rooms of the residents and wandered the hallways playing the guitar and singing. Sometimes he would also play the autoharp for them. 

In the 1980s he started Sebago Lake Realty with two partners and was a real estate broker until about 1996. He was always an avid reader and book collector. When he retired as a realtor he had a "barn" built and sold books online at ABE and Alibris. As of March 2025, he had an inventory of 12,000+ books. He spent weekends going to book sales, yard sales and auctions searching for rare and valuable books to sell online.

He made many friends in his lifetime and never stopped staying in touch with them. He also was an active member of the New Gloucester Historical Society for many years. He was a great dad who was very supportive of his two daughters who he loved spending time with and sharing his interests and theirs.

Ken was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Brinnick, and his daughters, Sheena Brinnick of Mechanic Falls, and Katherine Sweda and her partner, Brian Young of Poland.

A special thank you to the compassionate staff at Andwell Home and Hospice Care who kept him comfortable for almost two years.

Donations can be made in his memory to Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village for their herb house restoration project or Andwell Home and Hospice Care.

Rest in peace, Kenneth. You will be dearly missed.

A visitation will be held at Wilson Funeral Home in Gray on December 5 from 6 to 8.

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