Mathew James Lanigan (April 10, 1964 – November 27, 2012) was an American businessman and selectman from Kennebunkport, Maine. A supporter of the town's annual Christmas Prelude, the 2012 edition of the event was dedicated in his honor, and the bridge connecting Kennebunkport and

Kennebunk Kennebunk is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 11,536 at the 2020 census (The population does not include Kennebunkport, a separate town). Kennebunk is home to several beaches, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife R ...

is now named for him. Lanigan was also a member of the Kennebunkport Business Association.

Life and career

Lanigan was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Donald and Margaret Hanna. He graduated Sarasota High School and the University of Central Florida. After several years as concierge manager at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in

Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...

, he later became the owner of The Emporium, a store in Kennebunkport's

Dock Square Dock Square in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, is a public square adjacent to Faneuil Hall, bounded by Congress Street, North Street, and the steps of the 60 State Street office tower. Its name derives from its original (17th-century) location a ...

, for seventeen years. The business was named one of the top 100 retailers of the world by

Swarovski Swarovski (, ) is an Austrian producer of glass based in Wattens, Austria, and has existed as a family-owned business since its founding in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski. The company is split into three major industry areas: the Swarovski Crystal ...

. He served on Kennebunkport's board of selectmen for eight years, including as its chair between 2007 and 2009. Beginning in 1986, he volunteered to decorate the town for its annual Christmas Prelude, including stringing the lights on the tree, and the bridge separating Kennebunkport from neighboring

. The bridge was named in his honor upon his death.

Death

On November 27, 2012, Lanigan died, aged 48, from complications from brain surgery performed eight days earlier. He was survived by his wife of ten years, Jennifer Lufkin, and three children.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lanigan, Mathew 1964 births 2012 deaths People from Kennebunkport, Maine Businesspeople from San Juan, Puerto Rico University of Central Florida alumni