Coneth P. Murray

Coneth Philip Murray of Southport died at his home on August 18, 2009.

He was born in Boothbay Harbor on July 21, 1946, the son of Leon and Phyllis Pinkham Murray.

Coneth graduated from Mt. St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island in 1965. While a student at the academy he was an all- star basketball player.

After graduation he entered the Air Force. He then worked for Colonial Distributors in Waterville for 14 years.

In 1968, he married Donna Piselli of Augusta and they made their home in Augusta until moving to Southport Island in 1983. After moving to Southport, he worked as a commercial fisherman out of Robinson’s Wharf, Southport.

Coneth enjoyed his life outdoors and the water. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially with his grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all those that knew him and love him.

Coneth was predeceased by his father, Leon, and his brother, Kevin Murray.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Donna, of Southport; his mother, Phyllis Murray of Boothbay Harbor; a daughter, Kristen Gosselin and her husband John of Boothbay; sons, Chad Murray and Kelley Adams of Boothbay, Shawn Murray and Shelly of Boothbay; a brother, Terrence Murray and his wife Pam of Scarborough; his mother-in law, Constance Piselli of Augusta; a sister-in law, Lori Murray of Boothbay; several grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A visitation was held Friday, August 21 at Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay.

A private graveside service was Tuesday, August 25 at the New Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta.

Those who wish may make a donation in Coneth’s memory to the Fishermen’s Memorial Fund.

Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Peter T. Van Aken

Peter T. Van Aken died on June 23 at the age of 68. He was a long time summer resident of Ocean Point. He was born June 20, 1941 in Bangor and spent his childhood in Dover-Foxcroft.

He was the son of the late Leslie S. Van Aken, a florist, and Marion (Trimble) Van Aken, an elementary school teacher. He would often share stories of those early years in Maine where he helped run the family greenhouse on West Main Street. Among the chores he liked to recount was helping to maintain the heated greenhouse through the frigid winter nights by shoveling coal into the greenhouse furnace in the early morning hours. In 1944 his parents purchased a cottage on Shore Road in East Boothbay where they summered.

In 1959, Mr. Van Aken graduated from Foxcroft Academy and then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He graduated from there in 1963 in Management with an Electrical Engineering minor. In his senior year, Mr. Van Aken was awarded the Karl Taylor Compton Prize. The Compton Prize is the highest award given to an MIT student recognizing outstanding contributions, high standards, and service at the university. He married his first wife, fellow MIT student, Carol Gustafson (d. 1999), in 1964.

In 1967, Mr. Van Aken attended the Harvard Business School, concentrating in nonprofit management. He was subsequently employed at MIT, Boston University, and Brandeis University in various administrative positions, culminating with Vice President of Administration at Brandeis. To each of these positions he brought his invaluable skill set of analysis, problem solving and planning.

In 1986, Mr. Van Aken left the academic community and co-founded a high tech company with two long time friends from MIT. The company, XANALOG Corporation, developed and delivered ready-to-use, integrated hardware and software systems for the modeling and simulation of nonlinear dynamic systems as well as the design and analysis of control systems. He served as Vice President and CFO for the business up until his death at the end of June.

In his spare time, he devoted countless hours as a volunteer to a wide variety of organizations. He dedicated time and effort to the Town of Winchester, Mass., where he served two terms on the Board of Selectmen, was Chairman of the Capital Planning Committee, and served on the Planning Board working to develop a Master Plan for the community. In addition, he was a long time member of the Town Meeting.

Mr. Van Aken’s multi-faceted volunteerism expanded to include the Boy Scouts of America. He had achieved the distinction of Eagle Scout in high school, served as president of the local MIT Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (then the Scout Service fraternity), and would later be honored with the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his years of leadership and commitment to Scouting in the Boston Minuteman Council. For the First Congregational Church in Winchester, he served on a number of committees and as treasurer. He stayed in touch with school friends and administrators from Foxcroft Academy over the years. He was always interested in the work of the academy and more recently became a member of the Board of Trustees

Besides his commitment to his community and his business, Mr. Van Aken was a devoted father and husband.

He is survived by his wife, Candace (Wood) Van Aken of Winchester, his daughter Christina Van Aken, his son David Van Aken, both of San Francisco, California, his step-daughter, Samantha Margles of Brooklyn, N.Y., and his step-daughter Shawn Margles of St. Croix. He leaves behind other family members including his beloved cousins in Maine.

Myrtle DeSantis

Myrtle "Myrt" DeSantis, 74, of Boothbay Harbor, formerly of East Boston died August 20 at a local hospital.

Myrtle was born in Boston, Massachusetts November 28, 1934. She was predeceased by her parents Earle C. and Olga  Reed; a sister, Earlene Morshead and two daughters, Lucia DeSantis and Rosemarie Thresher. "Myrt" is survived by her daughter and son in law, Debi and Mark Buscanera of Westport Island, her three sisters, Marilyn Maloney of Oregon, JoAnne Palmer and Charlene Reed of Massachusetts; her grandchildren, Giana & Nicholas Buscanera of Westport Island, and Martin & Paul Thresher of Massachusetts.

Myrtle was affectionately known as "Myrt" and by the nickname "Button" by some family members. She was an artist who loved to ice skate and spent much time at Ocean Point watching the surf. She loved to read the Bible and was a devoted Jehovah’s Witness for more than 50 years. She will be missed by family, friends and her many neighbors at Bay Landing Apartments in Boothbay Harbor.  

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 30 at 3 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of "Jehovah’s Witnesses," 6 Station Rd., Newcastle. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Kingdom Hall.  On-line condolences may be placed at www.directcremationofmaine.com. 

Ernestine M. Dodge

Ernestine Munro Dodge, 100, of East Boothbay passed away Sunday, August 23, 2009.

She was born in Round Pond, Maine, March 30, 1909, daughter of John Parker Munro and Laura Gamage Munro.

Her father owned and operated a grocery store in Round Pond and she occasionally made the trip via horse and buggy around the entire Bristol peninsula with him taking orders, then making the deliveries. In the winter, they stopped at homes along the way to re-heat a stone used to keep her feet warm..

In 1918 the family moved to Portland where her parents operated a tea room. She attended Portland High School, then studied piano, voice and dance. She worked at Carter Bros. Jewelers before the family returned to Round Pond in 1936 and she assisted her mother who served as Matron of Lincoln Home in Newcastle. She also worked for the telephone company, and was at the switchboard at Bath Telephone on VJ Day, when all the lights lit up at once.

In 1940 she married Harry A. Dodge, a pharmacist, and moved to Schenectady, New York. Following his death in 1948, she returned to Round Pond to care for her parents and worked at Ethel’s Dress Shop in Damariscotta.

In 1951 she married Frank S. Dodge and moved to East Boothbay. She worked for several years at the Country Store and at the Custom House and Clipper Ship in Boothbay Harbor.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed music, played the piano daily at her home, and also at the East Boothbay Methodist Church. She was also a soloist for many years, and frequently sang at special functions as well as at church services. She directed the choir at the East Boothbay Church for many years, as well as the junior choir, and was active in the United Methodist Women. In her younger years, she told of playing the piano for silent films.
For more than 25 years, she ran the Mustard Seed Thrift Shop for the church as a volunteer.

Surviving are her daughter, Mary Dodge Brewer and her husband, Butch of Murray Hill, East Boothbay; her son, Munro and his wife, Mary D. Dodge of Sea Street, Boothbay Harbor; a stepson, John Alfred Dodge of Walpole, Mass.; three grandchildren, Sarah Brewer Morley of Edgecomb, Allison Dodge Williams of Fort Mill, S. C. and Alec Dodge of Boothbay Harbor; and two great-grandchildren, Hannah and Nicholas Morley.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 29, at 10 a.m. at the East Boothbay Methodist Church, pastor Lisa Berger officiating. Friends who wish may make memorial donations in her name to the East Boothbay Methodist Church, P.O. Box 11, East Boothbay, ME 04544.

Josephine M. Hunt

Josephine McKown Hunt, age 99, died on Friday June 19. Her husband of 62 years, Willis Beverly Hunt, Sr., preceded her in death.

Survivors include her son, Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr. (Ursula), daughter Paula Hunt Geiger (James), grandchildren Christian Hunt (Lisa), Peter Hunt (Crystal), Amy Hunt Leonard, Nancy Geiger Greene (Steve), and John Geiger (Mia). Great grandchildren include Matthew Leonard, Haley Leonard, Katie Greene, Madeline Geiger, Huddleston Hunt, and Hilton Hunt. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Josephine Hunt was the daughter of the late sea captain and Mrs. Jason Caswell McKown of Boothbay Harbor and Boston, Massachusetts. Preceding her in death were her brother Jason McKown (Ruth), nephew Richard McKown, and her sister Audrey McKown Hodgdon (Albion).

Born in Pensacola, Florida, raised in Malden, Massachusetts, and being the daughter of a sea captain, she travelled extensively as a child. She was educated in Malden and attended Boston College. Her hobbies included sewing, knitting, painting, and reading. She was a lifelong faithful member of the Methodist Church.

Her married years were spent in the south, living the past 25 in Perry, Georgia, where she was a member of the Perry United Methodist Church, Daniel Stewart Chapter of the DAR, the Wednesday Afternoon Book Club, and the Sorosis Club.

A graveside serve was held on June 23 at the Forsyth City Cemetery, Forsyth, Georgia.

Early settlers of the Boothbay area included Josephine’s great, great, great-grandfather, Patrick McKown. In 1765, Patrick Mc-Kown left his home in Glenarm, Northern Ireland. He was the first of the McKowns to arrive in America. The McKowns, along with the Murrays (Josephine’s mother’s maiden name) and the Hodgdons, settled this coastal region of Maine. They built and sailed ships that carried timber, iron ore and other cargo around the world.

Josephine’s father, Jason Mc-Kown, sailed to many foreign ports, sometimes taking his family with him; there was danger as well as adventure. Before Josephine was born, her parents’ first two children, ages 4 and 6, were lost in a shipwreck on April 14, 1903 in Galveston Bay. They were at anchor overnight and were run into by the steamship El Rio. Their ship, the Margaret Ward, along with its cargo of steel rails, sank within 30 seconds, resulting in the loss of ship, cargo, and three lives.

Josephine enjoyed summer visits to the Boothbay area, especially visits to her sister Audrey and brother-in-law Albion Hodgdon, who had a summer cottage in Bayville. She was also a member of the Boothbay Region Historical Society.

She was a hands-on mother, but she always had time for friends, going to church, and for reading and reviewing books. She was an elegant seamstress and a gifted artist. She sewed every dress she ever wore, and coats as well – not just for her, but for her daughter, Paula. Her oil paintings, especially of flowers and Maine scenes, hang on the walls of the family homes.

She was a vital, artistic woman who loved her community, loved her heritage, loved her friends, loved the Methodist Church, and loved especially the members of her family.

Peter A. Nichols

Peter Ames Nichols, 69, father of Elia, Joshua, and Chessell died Friday August 21^st at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Peter was born in Boston, Massachusetts November 5, 1939 as a son to the late Dr. Arthur and Bettine Nichols. They moved to moved to Wiscasset, Maine and eventually to beautiful Parson’s Creek, Edgecomb. Peter went on to great heights as a graduate of the University of Maine Orono where he excelled as a student athlete in baseball and football. Peter received a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of California San Diego, and further advanced his studies at Boston University.

Peter’s love for travel took him such places as Okinawa, Japan, parts of Germany, Iceland and Turkey. Peter did amazing work for children as a school counselor for US. Govt. schools in these countries. He had many other exciting jobs in his life, once even doing a stint as a Chimney Sweep!

In addition to a wide range of employment, Peter had a great many skills in his life including: cooking (like a gourmet chef), sports cars (he raced and repaired), knife making, home building (including a log cabin), furniture building (using a rustic style), languages, archery, gardening, and World History (he was a WWII buff).

Peter is survived by his long time companion, Joan Day, daughter, Chessel McGee, sons Elia and Joshua, two sisters, Darrell and Jane, two brothers, Arthur and Joel. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Arthur, Bettine, and Madene; and by his brother Azel.

A private memorial service will be held for him. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial contributions are made to Preble Street Teen Center at 18 Portland Street, P.O. Box 1459 Portland, Maine 04104, or to a charity of your choosing.

Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay, ME. 04537

Nancy Stover

Nancy W. Stover died on August 21 following a very brief illness at the home of her daughter, Tracy Jackson in Phippsburg. Both of her daughters were at her side.

    She was born on November 8, 1932 in Lima, Ohio, the only child of Jaunita and James Walker. She graduated from Hamden, High School in Hamden Connecticut in 1950. She then attended Bates College. She received a BA in English from Bates in 1954.        

    Nancy spent the next 25 years raising her two daughters, volunteering at their schools and attending and supporting all of their extra-curricular activities and interests.

   Following that she worked for several years at Atlantic Seafood in Portland, before becoming personal secretary to Leonard Nelson at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer and Nelson for many years until she retired.    

     Before moving to Phippsburg shortly before her death she resided at The Atrium in Portland where she was an active member of the Dining Committee; and an avid Red Sox, Patriots, and Portland Pirates fan. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles and spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren.       

    She is survived by her two daughters, Lisa W. Bertelson of Weston, Massachusetts, Trae W. Jackson of Phippsburg, their husbands, Robert C. Bertelson and Jonathan B. Jackson, and her two beloved grandchildren, Abigail Anne and William Christian Bertelson, her two Siamese cats and many friends

  There will be a Memorial Service at the Atrium at 640 Ocean Avenue on Friday, August 28 from 11-1.

In lieu of Flowers donations may be made to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.