POLCHIES, Terrance “Terry” C., 74, Bangor & Houlton, Oct. 15, 2016. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wed., Oct. 19 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Houlton. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton.
BANGOR and HOULTON —Terrance C. “Terry” Polchies, 74, died October 15, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born November 21, 1941 in Woodstock, NB Canada, the son of Alexander & Grace (Saulis) Polchies.
Terry was the first Native American to graduate Houlton High School, he was the first Chief of the Houlton Band of Maliseets and was a recipient of the Ford Foundation Fellowship. He was the Executive Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Houlton Regional Office, a negotiator for the Maliseet Tribe during the Maine Land Claim Settlement of 1980, the Director of the Central Maine Indian Association and retired from University of Maine – Orono after 10 years.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sylvia (Sockbeson) Polchies of Bangor; seven children, Vincent (Polchies) Brooks of Bangor, Scott Spann of Hermon, Stephen Spann of Holden, Harrel Spann of Bangor, Renee Hawthorne of Plymouth, Peter Spann of Bangor and Eric Spann of Clinton; 16 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; his “Zoomins”, Kate & Jennifer; a brother, Valentino Polchies of Woodstock, NB Canada as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings: Maynard, Beverly, Robert, Mavis and Willard.
Friends may call 9-11 a.m., Wednesday, October 19th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Houlton with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am with Father David Raymond officiating. Interment will be held at the Tribal Cemetery. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.
