Riva Donham Hawkes

Born: August 18, 1924 in Island Falls, Maine
Died: October 4, 2019
Buried:

Riva grew up in Island Falls, attending school here and returning after some schooling to live and work here all her life. She was one of 3 sisters and they lived on Harding Street. Riva related that one of her earliest memories was being awoken by her father and taken to the bridge over the river to watch the Tannery burn. She said that the “whole world was on fire”.

Riva’s father, Tom, tended the dam at the foot of Mattawamkeag Lake and summers were spent there, fishing, wading and generally enjoying life on the water. Riva was proficient in handling a canoe, and a strong swimmer, for many years she enjoyed a daily swim in the pool at Vacationland Estates. For nearly 40 years she worked as an X-ray technician at Milliken Memorial Hospital. She was the only radiologist for many years and was on call for any duty when accidents and emergencies came into the hospital.

When she retired, she took on the duty of newspaper reporting for the town. We all remember her columns filled with news of meetings and doings about town but certainly for the reports on the nature about her. The birds, the deer, the unexpected visits by skunk, raccoon, or middle of the night unknowns were all related in print each week.

Riva sang in the church choir for many years. A beautiful alto voice remembered by those who heard her. Her grandfather George Donham was said to be very musical, and Riva seems to have inherited that ability. She is well remembered by any who knew her and certainly an addition to the growth and character of Island Falls.