A Scottish heart, a love so vast, A great person, from first to last, Their kindness shone, a beacon bright, A guiding star, through darkest nights. They stood for truth, embraced the weak, Their love, a force, a river deep, A life of honor, compassion, and grace, Our dear friend, forever embraced. We'll celebrate the life they led, A love unbroken, a path well-tread, My dear friend, forever near, A Scottish legacy, in memory clear.
We are saddened to report the passing of William “Bill” McKeen. Bill was a true Mainer. Born, bred, and immersed in Maine traditions. He spoke with a rich Maine accent and was proud of his roots. He devoted his life to his family, to his work, and to his community, always finding the time to apply his talent to the things that would support them. His devotion and optimism carried the day through many a difficult time.
Bill devoted years to the Saint Andrews Society of Maine and established the Friday night Ceilidh at the Maine Highland Games giving the clans a place to celebrate and the Games a needed boost. Bill was an original volunteer to the Maine Ulster-Scots Project eagerly joining in its mission to save and share the stories of Maine’s nearly forgotten Scots-Irish families. He spent untold hours working at public functions, archaeological dig sites, researching family trees and family stories, and compiling the most comprehensive list of Maine’s pioneering Scots-Irish families ever assembled.
To say that he will be missed would be a huge understatement, but Bill preferred to understate his contributions to others, so we will let it go at that. Bill embodied the Maine motto “DIRIGO” (I lead”) and we will all miss his leadership, his friendship, and his steadfast optimism. His encouraging words “we can do this!” still rings in our ears. Godspeed Bill, you did it!
More on Bill’s work with MUSP: https://www.maineulsterscots.com/excellence-award
January 2025 - We are sorry to report the passing of a great friend.
Alister McReynolds was the first from Northern Ireland to reach out and contact the Maine Ulster-Scots Project when it was first conceived in 2006. He has remained a constant friend, mentor and contributor to our program and to our followers ever since. He took it on himself to come to Maine and see our Ulster heritage first hand and report to anyone interested of his findings and of our ongoing work. He established connections with many people and organizations on our behalf and was always willing to contribute his time whenever it was needed. He became a great personal friend. His knowledge was vast, his heart was kind, and his impact on those he knew was always positive.
Our deepest condolences to all his family and friends. Alister became a symbol of renewed kinship reaching across “the pond” after 300 years of separation. God’s speed good friend.
March 2024 - We are saddened by the news of Linda Bean’s passing. Linda was many things to many people. She was a champion of Maine’s hard working people, a lover of Maine’s natural environment, and an ardent researcher and admirer of her Maine ancestors. It was in her role as a family genealogist and advocate for the preservation of historic sites that brought her to become a friend and supporter of our work at MUSP.
Linda’s family history weaves itself though much of New England’s history and she was particularly inspired by the grit and determination of her Scottish and Ulster-Scots roots. The name Bean was handed down through her family from a Highland prisoner captured at the 1650-1 battles of Dunbar and Worcester. John Bean was subsequently deported to Massachusetts where he was sold into servitude. Linda’s Ulster-Scots connections can be traced back to the earliest emigration from Ulster to Maine in 1718.
We send our deep condolences to Linda’s family and to the entire State of Maine which has lost a staunch and redoubtable advocate for all that is the best of Maine.
