Dear Editor:

Boothbay Harbor lost an outstanding citizen a few days ago and I lost a friend. Earl Brown wore many hats in this community; selectman, harbor master, school bus driver, lobsterman and chef at Brown's Wharf. He truly loved the kids he drove to school for many years.

Earl spent earlier years away, buying and selling and delivering seafood from Nova Scotia to New York City and west through New Hampshire and Vermont into upstate New York. His service in the U.S. Air Force took him to Japan and Korea, during the war, as he became licensed to repair jet and reciprocating engines and several types of aircraft and he served as a crew chief aboard a C-46 Curtis Commando.

After the Air Force, Earl could have qualified for a high paying job with Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut, but he opted for the life of captain of a variety of vessels. He commanded offshore fishing vessels and delivered expensive large yachts between New England and Florida. Earl fondly recalled his role as captain of the ocean research vessel, Tioga.

At one point he managed a well-known restaurant in Washington, D.C., The Market Inn, which was frequented by big name politicians and statesmen, none of whom seemed to impress him very much.

Earl enjoyed his role as harbor master, seeing it as a service to the boating community, rather than a maritime cop.

Despite the stereotype of mariners relying on salty language, Earl did not punctuate his speech with profanity. The strongest epithet I ever heard from him was “thunders.” The only time he ever showed the slightest anger toward me was one cold and snowy morning when I tried to pay him for driving me to the VA hospital at 6 a.m.

It was not always smooth sailing in Earl Brown's life, but he managed tragedies and disappointments much as a seasoned skipper handles unexpected bad weather. Family was important to Earl, which could be why his wish was that there be no public occasion upon his passing, only close relatives.

We wish you safe passage, Captain Brown, Fair Winds and Following Seas.

Palmer Payne
Boothbay Harbor