A beautiful and meaningful memorial plaque. An unforgettable gentleman who offered his time and patience to a small coastal community and sadly passed in 2020. An appreciative, close-knit summer neighborhood. A dedication ceremony in 2021. And, then, the disappearance of this lovingly engraved nameplate marking Pete Yesmentes’ commitment to this area … the Pete’s Landing plaque was gone.

This is the unlikely mystery of the theft of the Pete’s Landing sign, initially sponsored through the Boothbay Shores Association (BSA), and was proudly displayed at the Association dock along Little River. The Boothbay Shores area is a small enclave of both year-round and summer residents, totaling approximately 100 unique, one-of-a-kind homes. It occupies a charming location off of Ocean Point Road in East Boothbay. Residents consider themselves fortunate to dwell in such beautiful surroundings. It’s a natural, unpretentious, peaceful area with little history of crime – until petty theft or prank disrupted the tranquility.

Pete Yesmentes was a very memorable man who, among other pursuits, worked as a field service engineer and a pilot, while also exploring the world from Panama to Beijing. His surviving lovely wife of 61 years, Eleanor, was his partner in many adventures. An unforgettable life together was built with their three children and six grandsons. His soul, spirit, and immense love were dedicated to his family, while a portion of his time was lent to his community. In short, a well-deserved memorial plaque to this fine gentleman was presented to family and friends during a dedication ceremony five years ago.

Roughly, in early May of this year, it was noted by an individual on the Loop – an affectionate nickname for our neighborhood because a large part of it is an almost perfect 2-mile loop – that Pete’s sign was missing from the post and beam structure that defines our BSA dock. Its absence was apparent given the lettering was a bright gold with a background of a warm shade of burgundy. There is no date as to exactly when it went missing.

The question is why would anyone want to burgle said plaque and deprive this neighborhood of its recollection of a generous, unselfish fellow? Perhaps someone simply liked the look of the sign. Or, maybe an individual named “Pete” thought it would look great in his family room? Did someone possibly want to “gift” his old buddy named Pete a really cool sign in his name? Could it have been purely vandalism with the intent to damage the aesthetics of the area?

The motive remains unknown, as do the perpetrators. The crime was reported to our outstanding police department, but no clues were discerned. The mystery remains.

However, no one in the Boothbay Shores community was going to tolerate the look of a barren post where, formerly, the legendary Pete Yesmentes name was thoughtfully exhibited. Within days of the discovery of this stolen plaque, the BSA determined that the nameplate would be replaced as soon as possible. With generous donations from BSA members, the replacement piece was ordered and soon ready to be secured to the opening.

Aug. 15 dawned as a spectacular and quintessential Maine day with bold, blue skies, a few puffy, white clouds, and a perfect 73 degree temperature; a fitting day to once again, celebrate Pete’s contribution to our cherished surroundings. With the BSA’s yearly meeting scheduled for that morning at the dock, many members appeared with their collapsible camp chairs and coffees in hand. With Pete’s beloved grandson, Jay Plummer, present, the Association’s president, Len Mattano, began the gathering by initiating the unveiling of the new sign that matched the old after explaining that the previous plaque had been "permanently borrowed.”

BSA member and close friend of Pete's, Marty Breinlinger, reminisced with great affection, adding that “this was Pete’s baby, this dock” and that he cared for it through storms and blizzards. Another close friend, Antoine Atallah, then shared that Pete had been an “exceptional friend” who “never said a bad word about anyone.” Folks nodded in agreement at the amusing and fond anecdotes, once more recalling their own warm memories of Pete.

The meeting continued for a while longer down at the dock. The sun was eventually shining directly on those assembled as it grew warmer and the unique cadence of summer began emerging more resoundingly – the roar of powerboats, the birds twittering in the branches above, the sound of sails fluttering in the breeze, the launching of kayaks from the float. There’s also the sense that these warm, precious months are coming to an end.

Somewhat wistfully, this last BSA get-together of the 2026 season concluded on Little River. One might say that this well-worn, busy, and much-loved dock could parallel Pete’s persona.

The mysterious heist of the original Pete’s Landing plaque will remain an enigma for the moment. However, Pete’s Landing is firmly here to stay for current residents and future generations to enjoy.