Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

SPRUCE HEAD – Alvin B. Rackliff, 91, died peacefully Sunday, January 22, 2012, at Knox Center for Long Term Care in Rockland.
Born in St. George, February 24, 1920, he was one of five children of Eugene R. and Lillian F. Warren Rackliff. Educated in local schools, he was a 1938 graduate of St. George High School.
At the age of 15, when appointed as Master of St. George Grange, Alvin became the youngest person to ever serve in that capacity in Maine. Another event branded in Alvin’s memory took place June 8th, 1935, as he was standing on the bow of the steam ship ‘Castine’. While underway off Vinalhaven, that ship struck ledge near the Inner Bay Ledges and sank.
For several years with his father, Alvin built and ran fish weirs, selling their catch to Green Island Packing Company. In conjunction with that operation, as a licensed pilot, he owned three sea planes which he used to spot fish.
On March 5, 1947, he married Norma J. Ranquist in Rockland. Together the couple built their six bedroom home on Weir Point, where they raised their family and created the homestead which to this day serves as the foundation for the family.
At an early age, he began lobstering on Wheelers Bay and continued until retiring at the age of 88. In 2009, Alvin was honored as Grand Marshall of the Lobster Festival parade, as one of the oldest working lobstermen at that time. Over the years he owned and operated several boats, including the ‘Squirrel’, ‘Phantom’, ‘Driftwood’, ‘Spirit of 76’, ‘Morning Mist’ and lastly the ‘Golden Rule’. He was noted for his colorful fisherman’s language and even invented some of the words he used.
Always an accomplished tinkerer, if Alvin couldn’t find a part or tool, he would make it. He had the ability to see a problem and quickly figure out a way to fix it. This included building at least two fish piers, and one year when he couldn’t get oak bows to build his traps, he bought the wood, a truck, loader and saw mill, milled his own oak and built the traps.
An avid hunter, he looked forward each year to spending the month of November with his friends hunting Downeast off the Airline Route. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles and camping, particularly at Moosehead Lake. His grandchildren often accompanied Pa on those camping trips.
For the past several months, he resided at the Knox Center in Rockland, where the staff on the Alzheimer’s Unit, through their loving care, became adopted family members.
Other than his parents, Alvin was pre-deceased by one daughter, Bonnie DeWolfe in 1995; two brothers, Bernard E. and Frank ‘Rip’ Rackliff, both in 2006; and two sisters Evelyn R. Archer in 2003 and Louise Wall. Besides his wife of 64 years, Norma, he is survived by three sons, Dennis A. ‘Bub’ Rackliff and his wife Patricia, Bradley D. ‘Butch’ Rackliff and his wife Juliann all of Spruce Head, Lanny B. ‘Russ’ Rackliff and his companion Marilynne Reynolds of Rockland; three daughters, Brenda J. ‘Jane’ Llera of Union, Sandra E. ‘Bunny’ Vose and her husband Ronald, Elaine R. ‘Dolly’ Taylor and her husband Steven, all of Spruce Head; twelve grandchildren, Candy, Becky, Jennifer, Keith, Katey, Carrie, Amy, Jesse, Benjamin, J Michael, Michelle and Heather; thirteen great-grandchildren, Alexi, Sadie, Mishana, Madison, Nataleigh, James Dennis, Emileigh, Lana, Keith, Jr., Madison, Thomas, Kaylee and Kendra; one great-great granddaughter, Sophia; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, January 30, 2012, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A graveside service at Ocean View Cemetery in South Thomaston, will be announced in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Route One, Suite 2 C, Scarborough, ME 04074.
To share a memory or story with Alvin’s family, please visit his guest book at www.bchfh.com.