A Love of the Lake that Lives On

For Jim Wescott, Unity Pond was more than a place to live. It was a connection to family, a place to fish and boat, and a natural resource he cared deeply about protecting. Now, his wife, Joan, is bringing people together to honor that love — and help preserve the lake for the generations still growing up along its shore.

Jim, who passed away in 2024, was part of a family connection to the lake that spans multiple generations. It began in 1969 with his great-aunt Leola and a camp on the pond. Over the decades, that same spot became a place where family memories were made and roots grew deeper.

From a camp to a year-round home

Having bought the house from his father, Jim and his buddies from Skowhegan High School tore down the old camp over a weekend in 2013. Jim then designed and built a four-season house, turning the family’s longtime summer retreat into a year-round home that he and Joan shared with their family.

The couple met 15 years ago and married, having shared many things in common — including a love for boating and the lake. Their life together on the lake reflected Jim’s enthusiasm for the outdoors and his concern for the environment.

An avid fly fisherman and boater, Jim’s love of the water came naturally: His grandfather was a fishing guide who took people on trips in northern Maine. Jim carried that family interest forward, pairing his enjoyment of fishing with a strong interest in water quality.

He graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington, where he majored in environmental science. That background deepened his appreciation for the lake and his understanding of the importance of caring for it. Professionally, he worked as a regional sales manager for MedTech, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

For Joan, supporting the lake offers a meaningful way to remember Jim while looking toward the future — especially the future of their six grandchildren.

“It’s overwhelming to me to see how much help the world needs right now,” she says. “This gives me an opportunity to show our grandchildren that you can do something in your own backyard that can impact the environment and the future of our lake.”

Her hope is simple: “To me, they’re our future — let’s clean it up for them.”

An afternoon for Jim — and the lake he loved

On Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m., Jim’s family, friends, and Friends of Lake Winnecook will gather at Bigelow Brewing, 473 Bigelow Hill Road in Skowhegan, for a memorial silent auction with live music by Carrie Hughes.

Featured auction items include Jim’s Old Town Bigwater PDL-132 fishing kayak, a weekend stay at a lake camp in June 2027, and a Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops gift certificate, with additional items and surprises planned.

All proceeds will support the “For the Love of Our Lake — Let’s Make It Clean, Not Green” campaign, helping fund an alum treatment to rehabilitate Lake Winnecook (also known as Unity Pond). Everyone is welcome, whether they knew Jim or simply share his love for the lake. Those unable to attend can contribute here.

“I know this would be something Jim would support,” Joan says, noting that the silent auction is being held in the town where he grew up and benefits the lake he so loved. Also, Jim’s son, Jarod, put his marketing expertise to good use in helping to promote the event.