Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

Condolence: Rookie will also be missed at our home next door to Serena. After 5 years without stairs on our deck, he decided one morning to head next door and build them—to my surprise and delight! We were so lucky to have him as a friend. Rookie kept me going with my hobby of running because I wanted to drop in on him often as he was building Tana’s home a short distance from our home. We was truly a joy to talk with. Walter and Barbara Parks

Condolence: When I heard of Ronnie's death my first thought was that something special and unique had gone from the world. It does seem like life in midcoast Maine is less interesting without him.

Condolence: I was lighting my wood stove the other day with one of those free newspapers that comes in your mail box and spotted a name on the back page that I recognized. Then to my horror I saw what column it was in. I’m sorry to have missed the gathering of friends and family for storytelling.
I met Ron back in the late 80's when he would frequent the Rockport Apprenticeshop to shed light on a project we were working on and generally spread his wisdom. Don't know how many have heard the story of Ron's sailing adventure but one fall, after starting my own boatyard, I needed crew to deliver a Marshall 22 catboat from Duxbury to Camden. Ron was up for the experience. It started with the drive down where we needed to stop at a couple of junk yards in his old stomping grounds near Andover to pick up some piece of junk from a buddy of his to fix some other piece of junk Ron was working on at home. Before getting on board we did the food shopping and Ron collected up enough food to cover three of us for the next four days. You would think we were headed out on a 'Love Boat' cruise of wining and dining. We had just enough wind to keep the boat moving, but not too fast. The trip took about 36 hours, sailing through the night. To keep us from falling asleep at the wheel, Ron kept up his usual storyline. I can't remember if it was just one story or 36 stories all linked together with some common thread. The only thing that interrupted the stream was his occasional heave over the side in response to the rolling seas. He would pick up the story, right where he left off, without a hitch. We arrived in Camden, off loaded nearly all the food we had put on the boat, and got back to life ashore. Ron headed for the only known cure for seasickness (to sit under a tree). I don't recall him ever asking to go sailing with me again.
Over the years I would bump into Ron at a surprising number of odd places. One Halloween while trick or treating with our two sons we rang a doorbell and there was Ron handing out candy from a friend’s house. I'd stop for breakfast at one of the many diners in our area and Ron would be sitting at the counter finishing up, but would stick around and finish a story while I ate. He would come to Spruce Head to visit his friends Ben and Nancy and always stop by my shop to make sure we were still doing it right. I'll miss his surprise visits and the great advise that came with them.

Condolence: My thoughts go to everyone. Rookie was my kissing cousin. When we were growing up I don't think that there was a time that we forgot to give each other a kiss before saying good bye. I'm blowing you a kiss right now cousin Rook, until we meet again.
Love you
Pam St.Jean Muller, Windham, NH

Condolence: Hey Rockie, I'll miss your endless stories, and about your architectural concepts, I'll always remember the time you came and visited me at the Knox Center you said that you had a fondness for insitutional food, we must have had some good laughth\'s over the years! Sorry you you had to leave use so young; at heart, spirit, and mostly of mind.
Just as my cousin whould say(Alan Shea),"I love you Man"!

Condolence: Rookie was walking by my house on Central Street when all the lights on the East Coast went out in 1965. Rookie knocked on our door, and he & I sat all night at our kitchen table by candlelight, talking about anything and everything. What a special guy he was!

Condolence: Rook was my cousin and most certainly a piece of work. He was never boring. He was larger than life in so many ways. I really loved that guy and when i was told of his passing i was deeply shocked and greatly saddend. I somehow thought that he was bullet proof and would be around forever. I will miss our phone conversations and his visits. I have many great memories from our times together.

Condolence: Rook and I crossed paths at OHTM this past Oct. We joked about the future of the fiberglass Allard J2. Since Ron spent many hours with his buddy making that body from my original J2 and neither of us have finished yet, I hope someone gets his finished for him. He shared many reminiscences about the former Abbot dairy/horse farm where I now reside. He will be missed by all. Condolences to family and friends.

Condolence: Dear Serena & Tana,

Well I’m not sure where to start …. Rocco, Ron, Rookie, the guy with the huge head and even bigger heart… was always a conundrum to me. I never quite understood his ever present lament that he was a “recovering negative person”. Yes, he cast a critical eye on the world and the folly (incompetence) of others but it was always with a such a generosity of character that you just kind of wished they had listened to him in the first place – he was most likely right. Regardless, he was always cheerful even in his darkest moments and a great friend. I will miss our endless discussions regarding pocket Victorians, the best ways to straighten a stainless steel rain channel and the ever expanding exploits of the Buicke(sp?) Valentini. Am so sorry I can’t make the story telling session tomorrow night …perhaps we can have a reprise at Owls Head this summer….

All my best,

t

Condolence: Rookie and I go back as long ago as Jane and I do....40 years! As a matter-of-fact, Rookie coined my college nickname, Dilly. Rookie was life personified. He was always spirited, enthusiastic, energized. He was creative and talented. He always seemed truly interested in what was going on in your life. His legacy is his wonderful and equally talented daughters. A presence like his is irreplaceable.

Our condolences to Rookie's wonderful family.

Dolores & Dick Albrecht