In Memoriam 1950 – 2020
Auburn, Skelton Taintor & Abbott is saddened to learn of the July 16th passing of our former colleague, retired shareholder and firm leader, Michael R. Poulin. Mike was a fixture at Skelton Taintor & Abbott until his retirement on December 31, 2017. As a shareholder at the firm and a statewide expert in healthcare law, Mike was revered and well-liked by the whole Skelton Taintor & Abbott family. He was dedicated to the legal profession, the firm, and his clients. Even after his retirement Mike continued to come into the office for several months to ensure that his clients’ needs were being met, and that his office was not left to others to clean.
Mike’s practice helped to drive the success of Skelton Taintor & Abbott for almost four decades. Over that time, Mike taught countless young lawyers his craft, serving as a mentor to the younger generations. His reputation as a brilliant and passionate advocate was surpassed only by his commitment to his faith which he served through volunteerism. Notable contributions in this regard included his work as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Maine, as a member of the Boards of Trustees of the Catholic Foundation of Maine, the Holy Cross and St. Dominic schools, and as a member of the Pastoral Council of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. As a Lewiston native, Mike left a lasting impact on his community, not only through his legal work on behalf of major local institutions, but as a supporter of community-based organizations that make a difference in the lives of people in the Twin Cities.
Mike’s career was noteworthy for a multitude of legal successes including winning a key Maine Supreme Court victory establishing immunity for physicians who provide information to hospitals for credentialing and peer review. He will be remembered at the office, not only for his successes in practice, but for his jovial nature at office gatherings. Mike’s unabashed singing at office birthday celebrations and his annual Christmas gifting to staff of his favorite (and difficult to procure) “Chocolate Charlie Candy,” will remain a part of the firm’s memory of Mike. Everyone at Skelton Taintor & Abbott offers their condolences to the Poulin family, which was a part of the firm’s family for so many years. Mike’s obituary can be found here.