OurStory

We are surprised that it has taken over a week for the murder of Dedham's resident, Art Tilley, Jr. to reach our local newspaper. This rumor surfaced last Friday, the 6th..Obviously, it was just a matter of time for it to go public. The crime was so hush hush, that nobody seemed to know for sure exactly what happened, although it was certain, in this corner, that he was shot to death. A terrrible event for any family to endure.His dad, Arthur Sr, was a member of the Bangor City Council, and continues a family run business here in Brewer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dedham man’s Fla. death probed
Few details, no charges a week after Tilley shot in woman’s home

PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILYArthur “Art” Tilley Jr.
By Nok-Noi Ricker
BDN Staff
BANGOR, Maine — Arthur “Art” Tilley Jr., a well-known local Kiwanis Club member, was shot and killed last week while he was visiting a woman in Florida, authorities said Friday.

Tilley, 57, was shot to death with a handgun on the evening of March 5 inside the home of a Riverview, Fla., woman, Capt. J.R. Burton of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Friday by phone.

“He had been visiting at the home,” Burton said. “They were known to one another.” He said the woman was 46 or 47.

Few other facts, including the type of handgun or how Tilley was killed, were being released because the shooting is under investigation, he said.

“Anytime one person kills another, it’s a homicide until it’s determined” otherwise, Burton said. “We still have an active investigation ongoing.”

No one has been charged, he said.

Riverview is a suburb of Tampa — Florida’s third-largest city — and is about eight miles to the south.

Tilley, who lived in Dedham, worked for Page Answering Service for 30 years, and later for Com-Nav Inc., both of which are based in Brewer. He was a Bangor Kiwanis Club member for close to 35 years, a family friend who asked not to be identified said Friday.

The Tilley family was notified of the death over the weekend, but has been left in the dark as to details, she said.

“It’s hard on the family,” she said. “For something so horrific [to happen] and not to have anything” is difficult.

Tilley served for many years as the Bangor Kiwanis Club’s secretary and also served as secretary of the New England District of Kiwanis.

He was awarded the Irving R. Talberth Outstanding Club Secretary Award from the New England District in November 2001.

Debby Paradis, current club president, informed members by e-mail of Tilley’s death.

“It is with very heavy heart that I must report the loss of a very dear friend to all of us,” she said. “Never have I met anyone as dedicated to children and their well-being as Art Tilley. He will be so very missed by all of us. We most certainly have lost a very precious part of our club.”

Tilley’s friends and family are invited “to share conversations” 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Brookings-Smith family center, 163 Center St., Bangor.

nricker@bangordailynews.net