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Edward W. Coffin

August 10, 1923 – May 13, 2018

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Edward Coffin
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Obituary for Edward W. Coffin

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OWLS HEAD - Edward Wayman Coffin of Owls Head, Maine passed away peacefully on May 13, 2018 at the Sussman House in Rockport, Maine. He was born on August 10, 1923 in Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, the son of Edward Brooks Coffin and Irene Wejemn Coffin. The youngest of three children, his older sister, June Anita Coffin Dammin, predeceased him in the 1980s and his older brother, Theron Tristam Coffin, died in 1945 in action in the Pacific during World War II.

Ed was raised on Nantucket Island and Tuckernuck Island. At age 18, he went to sea and worked aboard 21 vessels during the dangerous times of World War II. Three of his vessels were torpedoed and sunk in the very next trip after he had moved on to other vessels. In 1944, while at a USO dance in New York, he met Barbara Nelson, and they married in 1945. Residing in New York, Ed continued to ship out as a mate until 1946 and then moved to Georgia, working for his father-in-law’s timber and paper business. It was at this time that Ed took up flying, which became a lifelong passion and allowed him to regularly visit Nantucket during his years in Maine.

In 1949, Barbara and Ed decided that they wished to live on the water and picked Maine out of an atlas. They came to Rockland in the spring of 1949 and bought a summer cottage, “Blue Spruces”, at Ginn Point in Owls Head. Ed worked at Holmes Packing, ran fishing boats, dragged kelp, and fished offshore during the first year in Maine. In 1950, he was offered a job by Franklin Wood, a local surveyor and real estate broker. Surveying would become Ed’s career in Midcoast Maine. Many properties in Knox County are based on Ed Coffin surveys, and they continue to be a rich source of information for those in the real estate business.

Ed built several boats in his shop at Ginn Point at the “Tug and Grunt Boatyard” culminating with a 25-foot friendship sloop “Ray of Hope” on which the family sailed for a number of years.

His interest in history led him to write several books which he self-published, including a history of Tuckernuck Island, Massachusetts and another of Owls Head, Maine.

Throughout his life, Ed presented a tall dignified figure, frequently attired in a Harris Tweed jacket and tie, and offered an erect and friendly greeting to all. His warmth, wry humor, and great knowledge on so many topics will be missed by many in Maine, Nantucket and Tuckernuck.

Ed was predeceased by his wife Barbara in 1977. He is survived by his daughter Diana Brooks Coffin of Florida. He was predeceased by his son Jeffrey T. Coffin in 2011. He is survived by Jeffrey’s sons, Ricky Lee Coffin and Jeffrey T. Coffin II. He was also predeceased by his grandson, Blake T. Coffin in 2011
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Those wishing to make donations in Ed’s memory can send them to the Owls Head Transportation Museum, P.O. Box 277, Owls Head, Maine 04854.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Achorn Cemetery off Lake Avenue Rockland.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

Graveside Service Information

When
Saturday June 30, 2018 1:00pm
Location
Achorn Cemetery
Address
Old County Road
Rockland, ME 04841

Interment Information

Location
Achorn Cemetery
Address
Old County Road
Rockland, ME 04841

Memorial Program

We have provided a digital copy (PDF) of the Memorial Program that we supply at the time of the service. To Download this file please click the filename below. Edward W. Coffin - Memorial Program
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