FALMOUTH — Daniel G. Lilley, 78, of Falmouth, died Saturday, March 11, 2017. He was born November 28, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Houlton, Maine. One of his first jobs was driving a potato truck through the fields of Aroostook County.
He graduated from Houlton High School in 1957. Upon graduating, he joined the Navy and attended The Naval School of Music, playing both Sax and Clarinet. He served on aircraft carriers USS Roosevelt, USS Intrepid and USS Independence. In 1960, he and his high school sweetheart, Annette, married and moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he attended night school at Pace College. Upon his discharge in 1961, they moved to Bangor, Maine, while he attended the University of Maine in Orono. He graduated in 1964. He furthered his education at Boston University School of Law, graduating in 1967.
One of his proudest achievements was to become a Trial Lawyer. He became an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maine in 1967 and was instrumental in starting the Criminal Division with Richard Cohen. The Lilleys moved to Portland in 1969, where Dan started his own law firm on Congress Street, despite being told that it was a highly competitive area for a new comer. He definitely proved them wrong. Throughout the years, Dan had many successful cases including murder, product liability, and medical malpractice. He moved his practice to the Old Port area, finally settling on the current location at Portland Pier in the mid 80’s. He was in the First Edition of Best Lawyers in America in 1983.
Dan was also an accomplished airplane pilot and certified scuba diver. He loved fast cars and boats, and enjoyed cruising around town or on Casco Bay. He also enjoyed spending time on his boat “The Barrister” on the Portland waterfront.
From 1997 until 2001, Dan and his son raced Offshore powerboats, winning a World Championship in Key West, Florida in 1997. Dan was extremely proud of this accomplishment that he shared with his son.
He was preceded in death by his parents, D. Keith and Doris Lilley and his son, David Adam Lilley. He is survived by his wife Annette, son Daniel, daughter in law Elaine and his faithful Yorkie, Zippy.
There is no funeral service planned. A Celebration of Dan’s Life will occur in the spring. In lieu of flowers, condolences may be left on the guestbook at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com. A Scholarship under Daniel’s name will be set up at a future date.
