(Click on above picture to enlarge. Scroll down for directions.)

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2007
STARTING AT 3 P.M. AT WILLARD BEACH

CEREMONY:
There will be an informal group ceremony on the beach (rain or shine). Come prepared to speak, recite poetry, silently reflect, perform magic tricks, bark, etc. - whatever you feel is appropriate.

DIRECTIONS:

To get to the Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) campus, where the May 5th celebration will begin:

From I-95: See directions on college web site at:
http://www.smccme.edu/docs.php?section=1&navid=2&docid=80

From 295 (recommended):

Exit 6 off 295. Turn right off the ramp. Almost immediately, bear right again, following signs for Route 77 south. Continue straight up the hill & down the hill (crossing Congress Street). At bottom of hill, bear right onto the Casco Bay Bridge. On the other side of the bridge, stay straight on Broadway (Broadway also goes to the right but you go straight.) Follow Broadway until it ends at Benjamin Pickett St. Turn right on Pickett, Turn left on Fort Street, (One block.) which is SMCC’s main drag.

PARKING:

For parking, turn right off Fort St. on Arboretum Drive. Follow Arboretum Drive to Lots CC and DD and park. Continue on foot toward the water, bearing to your right past a building made of red corrugated steel. There is a small parking lot (Lot EE) next to the Old Settlers Cemetery (stone wall & sign.) Just past the Cemetery on the right are wooden stairs leading to the main section of the beach.

WHERE TO GATHER ON THE BEACH:

Meet at the tree that juts horizontally out over the sand a short distance to the right of the Cemetery steps. Wind and rain permitting, we'll attach balloons to this. If it's windy and/or raining, the show will go on! John loved the outdoors...and hated contingency plans (or plans in general).

DISCLAIMER FROM OUR BELOVED LEGAL ADVISOR KATHY:

The cemetery stairs are currently missing the bottom step, courtesy of a recent storm, and are tough to navigate. The steps will be fine for the young and/or limber but are not suited for eveyone. We'll put up a warning sign - but if we forget, please walk carefully - we don’t need any twisted or broken ankles or celebratory lawsuits.

The beach can also be accessed by walking past the stairs to where the fence ends. A short footpath leads to the beach at that point. You are still close to the tree area, which is now to the left as you face the water. (From stairs to end of fence is maybe forty yards.)

FOR THOSE STAYING AT THE MCKERNAN HOSPITALITY CENTER:

To find the McKernan House, turn left on to Fort St. from Pickett as described above and continue past Arboretum Drive to McKernan Drive, also on the right. Turn here and follow the roadway a short distance to the Hospitality Center, a big brick building with white trim and a veranda. There is some parking by the building and more spaces just down the hill toward the water.

To reach the Cemetery from McKernan House, pick up the walkway where the additional parking is and follow it to the right.

POST-CEREMONY FOOD AND DRINK
http://www.saltwatergrille.com/index.html

John Dyett, dear friend of people young and old; pigs, cows, chickens and trees; and passionate outdoorsman, died peacefully at his home in South Portland on the evening of Saturday, December 23rd. He leaves behind his two sons, John and Jason, his ladylove Kathy, three grandsons, Jack, Scott and Thomas and a wildly varied group of family and friends – from anonymous dog-walkers on Willard Beach to exchange students from Uruguay and Mexico.

Whether asking an eight-year-old to contribute his plastic turtle to the emerging landscape on the hood of his 1982 pickup or wooing an 84-year-old senior onto the dance floor for the first time, John never shied away from a conversation or an adventure.

Childhood camping and fishing in the Adirondack mountains with family and friends sparked his lifelong engagement with the outdoors. Raised in Rome, New York with his brother, Tom, and sister, Kirk, John graduated from Hobart College in 1968. John then moved to Massachusetts, where he built on his experiences at Outward Bound by establishing alternative education programs for elementary school and special needs children.

During the decade that he lived on a mountain in Greenfield, NH, John honed his carpentry, wood-splitting, and outdoor survival skills with Deeogee (dog and ever-present friend), Oink (pig and camping companion), and Butterfly (cow and dinner). His distinctive voice blended with the sounds of the a cappella singing group, the Local Vocals. And his strong sense of community created the locally broadcasted talent show, “Opportunity Knocks”. A man whose home was the Universe, John also lived at times in New Mexico and Florida, accompanied by his camper, the infamous Turtle.

With many friendships in tow and wild experiences behind him, John finally settled in Portland, Maine. Drawn by the seasonal beauty of the Northeast and Maine’s rugged and rocky coast, he rapidly acquired new friends, explored the islands of Casco Bay by sailboat and kayak, and pursued his interests in gardening, biking, photography, sculpture and poetry.

A creative community agitator, John had a special interest in projects that connected different generations, or that immersed people in unfamiliar experiences that challenged assumptions. He was curious about other cultures, traveling frequently to Mexico, Central America and Peru, where he enjoyed living with local families and learning to speak Spanish.

As John embarks on his newest journey, we will be warmed, saddened, and kept company by the many vivid memories generated by his large heart, unique approach to life and tireless energy. We will celebrate his life at a ceremony in the Portland area in the spring of 2007.

Came across the following in a random YouTube search. Wow, everything really is available online! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXclKibyzvY (if this doesn't work for you, do a YouTube search for "Dyett").

John in his element.

The Thanksgiving 2006 crew - with Kathy behind the camera.

Lots of Dyett men: Thomas, Jason, Old Man Dad, Scott, John, Jack.

Jack planting the tree that Grandad gave him during Thanksgiving 2006 in Los Angeles.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Jason Dyett on several occassions through our mutual friend Jake Sorofman. I have lived in the Portland area for more than ten years and John's truck was a regular occurance around the city. I also lived a couple of houses away from John in South Portland. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but Jake said if I approached him I would certainly have a new friend for life. After having read this blog, I truly wish I had made that effort. My condolensces to all who will miss him and I can say that I will actually miss the many occassions on which I bumped into his ever evolving truck. I can only guess it to be as unique as the man.

Still smiling at Thanksgiving 2006 with grandson Jack.

Taking Jack for a sail on "Integrity" off the coast of Portland.

Rolling around with grandsons Jack, Scott and Thomas.

John and Kathy - if you can make her out from behind the Old Man's version of the "six-pack".