10/12/2026
We are saddened to let everyone know about the passing of David Broadbent. David was the much-loved camp director/youth director for the Maine Annual Conference from 1978-1984. He was the last person to hold both positions at the same time.
For those of us involved in the UMC youth program or who were campers in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, David was a very important person in our lives. The youth rallies were HUGE; every event had well over 100 youth attending. It was at one of the youth events that I first met Dave. He was leading us in a song time teaching songs. Dave loved singing and music and especially loved teaching everyone new songs. He loved teaching us camp songs and songs that were funny. On this particular day he taught us all a song called “Little Bunny Foo Foo.” It was a song he would learn to hate because from that day on, everyone would sing it back to him or request he lead it. He even tried to ban it, which made all of us sing it even more.
The next time I saw Dave, I was being interviewed by him for a summer job at Mechuwana. I was 18 and about to graduate from high school. This was my first interview. He offered me the position of “camp gopher.” In a very Dave way, which was to be super excited and animated about everything, he described the position: “You will clean bathrooms all morning, gather mail and go to the post office right after lunch, and run any errands the main office needs. Report to the kitchen by 4 PM and work through dinner in the kitchen.” He said excitedly, “A lot of people really want the position, but I think YOU (pointing at me) would be perfect for this.”
“And,” he continued, “the board has just approved this position to be paid $600. You will get $300 at the end of the summer and the remainder around Christmas time. Oh and here is the best part—we will not deduct anything for meals or housing.”
I could not wait to sign the contract.
There were a few things that Dave insisted upon and that he demanded you understand if you were going to be on his staff: 1) Every job on staff was important; none were more important than any other. 2) Volunteers were the heart and soul of the program and were to be supported by us at all times. 3) Campers deserved our full energy even if we were tired and it was week seven of the summer, not to do so was cheating our kids, and we did not do that. 4) We were to treat each other with kindness and respect. 5) We did not judge where people were on their faith journey, we were to instead learn and listen and pray—a phrase I still have in my office today, written by him. 6) Have fun, you’re at camp after all and the people you’re on staff with will be part of your life for a long, long time—maybe the rest of you life. 7) And most importantly—if you see a plugged toilet, plunge it; Yes, it’s in your job description.
Dave and Paulette (his wife) brought a spirit of high energy, fun, and fellowship to Mechuwana, which was so contagious. Dave was so much fun to be around, so much fun to work for. But more importantly, he was a person that deeply cared for others. We all knew Dave had our backs and that we could always go to him and talk about anything. We knew no matter how busy he was, he would always make time for us. I know this because I was one of those teenagers that needed to talk, and Dave was always there. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of my first summers on staff and our leader who we loved. Thank you, David. —Norm
