Parents Father: TRACY, Hilman Blanchard Mother: MANNING, Ethel Bernice Birth Born on August 15, 1929 in Portland, Cumberland Co., ME Death Died on August 06, 1996 in Portland, Cumberland Co., ME Marriages BUCK, Audrey Married on May 29, 1953 in Bangor, Penobscot Co., ME Children RAND, Gale Ellen RAND, Julie Sarah RAND, Eric T.: October 08, 1953 RAND, Mark H.: September 17, 1954 RAND, Jill A.: April 23, 1964 Notes Military Service: US Army Obituary: Portland Press Herald Portland,ME August 8,1996 Theodore T. Rand, a self-reliant resident of Little Diamond Island who found himself swimming against the tide during three years on the Portland City Council, died Tuesday at age 66. Rand's son Eric said the family was unsure of the cause of death. Rand became ill Tuesday night and died at home, his son said. ''He had a normal day,'' Eric Rand said. ''He had been feeling fairly tired, but he hauled traps and set a mooring'' before becoming ill. Rand, the son of Ethel B. and Hillman Tracy Rand, graduated from South Portland High School in 1946 and enlisted in the Army at 17, serving in Germany in 1947 and 1948. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1953 with distinction and a degree in civil engineering. After that, he carved out a solitary life for his family on Portland's Little Diamond Island. In 1954, Rand paid the government less than $5,000 for a lighthouse buoy depot on the island. Rand, his wife Audrey, their infant son Eric, two cats and a dog moved into the small Victorian house that came with the property, and they became the island's sole year-round residents. They lived initially in just one room, while Rand repaired the damage that had been done over the years by vandals. ''He had this dream of coming out here and starting a business and bringing up his family here,'' Eric Rand said. ''He had this vision, and that's what he followed. He saw more in the future for the islands than a lot of people did.'' Rand ran a marina and marine supply store on the island, served for a time as Portland's deputy building inspector, worked as a civil engineer, ran a water taxi and even taught German at Portland High School. He was intermittently active in city government, serving on the Portland Planning Board for six years and running unsuccessfully for the City Council in 1975. He ran again in 1990 and easily defeated Edward I. Bernstein, who had served on the council for 21 years. Rand soon found himself the lone conservative voice on the council. He was one of only two Republicans - Cheryl Leeman, a moderate Republican, was the other - serving on the nine-member council in a predominantly Democratic city. During his three years, a number of important measures - waterfront zoning, gay rights and annual budgets - passed on 8-1 votes. Rand's was usually the sole voice in dissent. One time, the city clerk counted Rand as a ''no'' vote, even though he had voted ''yes.'' ''Ted's fundamental belief was anybody but government should be doing things,'' City Manager Robert B. Ganley said Tuesday. ''But you could have an honest disagreement with him, and it wouldn't linger.'' Ganley said Rand's biggest achievement was restructuring the Portland Harbor Commission. Rand cut the budget and focused the commission and harbor master on enforcement of speed and wake laws, a thing of fundamental concern to those who work on the water. Other councilors respected Rand even when they disagreed. He could usually be counted on to make a short, to-the-point statement of where he stood - a rarity on a council prone to long speeches. But Rand decided not to run for a second term in 1993. He said three years of being a one-person minority had taken its toll. ''I'm always a guy who accomplished things, and it's kind of frustrating not being able to accomplish things,'' Rand said at the time. ''I always had to bail and plug leaks instead of steering the ship.'' Rand was an early president of the Casco Bay Island Development Association and was responsible for much of the subdividing of the backshore property on Peaks Island. He served on the Board of Harbor Commissioners and made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1994. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Eric and Mark of Portland; three daughters, Gale McGee of Portland, Julie Vickers of South Portland and Jill Rand of Westbrook; and 10 grandchildren. Arrangements are by Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. In lieu of flowers, mourners are asked to send donations to the Ronald McDonald House, 250 Brackett St., Portland, ME 04102. A time of remembrance will be held at the family residence on Little Diamond Island from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Occupation: Marina & Marine Supply Store/ Deputy Building Inspector/ Civil Engineer Election: Portland City Council Sources Maine Deaths: #9607118