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U.S. NEWSMonday 14 September 2015
More than 500 people attend memorial service for LL Bean CEO
WESTBROOK, Maine (AP) In this May 1999 file photo, Leon A. Gorman sits outside one of the company’s stores in Freeport, company as CEO or chair-
— L.L. Bean’s flagship 24/7 Maine. L.L. Bean’s flagship 24/7 stores in Freeport closed on Sunday for the first time in nearly a man for 46 years before
stores in Freeport closed half-century as 500 people gathered at a memorial service for Gorman, the outdoors retailer’s retiring as chairman of the
on Sunday for the first time longtime leader. board in 2013. He died ear-
in nearly a half-century as lier this month of cancer.
500 people gathered at (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) He was 80.
a memorial service for the He transformed the com-
outdoors retailer’s longtime of the year award will be Volunteer Service Award in Swann said Gorman was a pany after his grandfa-
leader. named the Leon Gorman his honor. very powerful person who ther’s death in 1967 from a
The service for Leon Gor- dedicated his time and ef- mail-order company with
man was held at a per- fort to helping those with $5 million in annual sales
forming arts center in near- the least power who were and 100 employees into an
by Westbrook. Burial was to impoverished. international multi-channel
be private. “What a lesson from Leon retailer with sales topping
The Portland Press Herald for all of us,” Swann said. $1.5 billion and more than
reported that Gorman’s Gorman, the grandson of 5,000 workers.
casket was center stage founder Leon Leonwood He also was a philanthropist
as a string quartet played Bean, led the Maine-based and conservationist, giving
classical music. A painting to a variety of causes and
of Gorman, sitting along- working to ensure land is
side his two English springer protected for future gen-
spaniels, stood at the left of erations.
the casket. The fact that the Freeport
Mark Swann, executive di- stores closed underscores
rector of the Preble Street his importance to the com-
Resource Center, a non- pany and the state.
profit that helps the home- L.L. Bean has voluntarily
less, said Gorman had closed its stores only twice
volunteered at its Port- before, following the
land soup kitchen every deaths of President John
Wednesday morning for 12 F. Kennedy and L.L. Bean
years. He said the resource himself.
center’s annual volunteer Since 1951, the Freeport
stores have been open
24/7 year-round, a tradi-
tion that dates to the days
when fishermen and hunt-
ers roused L.L. Bean at all
hours from his home above
the store when they need-
ed supplies.q
