CAMDEN — Benjamin Webber Scofield, 63, died March 19, 2015, at Pen Bay Medical Center. Born in Levittown, N.Y., Ben had some severe disabilities that affected his physical coordination and mental development, neither of which, however, prevented him from enjoying a full and happy life. His early years growing up on Long Island were hard, living in a time when people with his handicaps were taunted mercilessly.

Fortunately, Ben had personal protectors in his three brothers and the head of physical education department at Division Avenue High School, who made Ben the water boy on the football and lacrosse teams. He graduated from high school and entered a work program where he assembled metal lighting fixtures.

In 1989, Ben and his mother moved to Camden, where Ben was a client of Coastal Workshop, an independent, supervised living program. Ben was proud to be a trumpet player the Lincolnville Town Band. He also got a job washing dishes at the Waterfront Restaurant where he remained for more than two decades. Ben loved his bosses, Sam and Leonard, referring to them both as "Pop," and of course the young women who waited tables. Moving Ben to Maine was the best decision, because the good people of Camden took care of Ben as well as family ever did. Ben became a fixture about town, and, in the family tradition, became an entrepreneur himself, setting up a bottle and can recycling business alongside his 'day job' at the Waterfront. After he retired from the Waterfront, he kept up the recycling business, having trained all the restaurants to put aside their bottles for him and even persuading some to deliver them to the big bins he kept outside his door.

Ben enjoyed traveling with his brother, Rupert, CEO of FINCA, to annual overseas board meetings in Russia, Azerbaijan, Malawi, Uganda, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Jordan. Ben would recount his adventures, which included meeting Natalie Portman in Uganda, to his family and many friends.

Although Ben was developmentally disabled, his I.Q. was above 100 and he strove to live a "normal" life. One of the attributes that made Ben so delightful to be with was that he essentially spoke his mind, without filters, and was never shy about sharing his observations about people, including to their faces.

Several months ago, Ben retired due to some health issues. It was amazing how he kept going living independently until the end in spite of his heart condition.

Ben was special and Camden is a better town because of his presence here. He left a small and gentle footprint on the earth, but built a large heart empire. Ben knew who he was but more that; he showed you who you were.

Ben's family is very grateful to the staff at Coastal Opportunities and Pen Bay Medical Center for their compassionate care.

Surviving are his three brothers, Frank A. Scofield and his wife, Nancy Walsh Scofield, of Bourne, Mass., Rupert W. Scofield and his wife, Lorraine O'Hara Scofield, of Bethesda, Md., and Dan Scofield of Camden; family friends, Lisa Scofield of Hampden and Carol Colby of Camden; his nieces and nephews, Alex Scofield, Ashley Goss, Julie Houser, Michelle Scofield, John Scofield, Perry Scofield, Cyrus Scofield and Eve Scofield.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

If desired, memorial gifts may be made to Coastal Opportunities (Coastal Workshop), P.O. Box 637, Camden, ME 04843 or to FINCA International at FINCA.org.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service.