November 2012 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 9. Waterfront News Over the Bar: Capt. Sue Clark; Sturgis Haskins; and Jim McGuiggan


Captain Susan J. Clark CAPE ELIZABETH -- On Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, Captain Susan J. Clark passed away after losing her battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and a group of wonderful, life-long friends who were always there for her as she bravely fought this illness.


Susan was born on Sept. 19, 1963, in Skowhegan. She was the daughter of Les- ter and Marlene Clark of Norridgewock. Susan attended Skowhegan Area High School where she formed friendships with an incredible group of people who would be with her for her entire life’s journey. She graduated in 1981 as valedictorian and class president. Susan earned her undergraduate degree at Maine Maritime Academy. During her time there, she literally sailed around the


world as a cadet on a container-ship. Upon graduating at the top of her class, Susan sailed as a watch-offi cer on oil-tankers with Exxon Shipping Company. She later became the fi rst woman to sail as captain with that company after earning her Unlimited Mas- ter’s license.


Susan attempted a life on land by at- tending law school at both Seton Hall and the University of Maine and received her legal degree in 1992. She accepted a position with the law fi rm of Verril and Dana in Portland and had the privilege of working alongside some outstanding attorneys. Susan enjoyed her brief career in the legal world, but sitting behind a desk couldn’t replace the bridge of a ship for her, so she went back to sea. Susan worked for Sea-River Maritime until 2001 and fi nished her shipping career there


Buying Lobsters Continued from Page 8.


drove the trucks summers, and of course Iʼd worked on the smacks when we had them. After we had the well taken out of the


ASW we acquired the sardine carrier Ken- neth D. in a trade arrangement. I wrote about her in my ”Towing the Beals Bridge”. I used her in helping build the Jonesport - Beals Bridge. The Kenneth D. was lost when she ran ashore on Boot Head, Lubec, one night in fog on her way down east with a trip of fi sh. The good news was her two man crew survived. With the incorporation of our trucks into the business there were arrangements made to transport lobsters for other deal- ers, and particularly a big dealer on Grand Manan. Here again, the freight margin was very narrow, maybe three cents per pound. That was pretty good because we didnʼt have to stand any shrinkage. Weʼd meet the boat loaded with crated lobsters in Lubec or after the International Bridge was built on Campobello, NB, or, the Canadian boats would come into our wharf and weʼd string and fl oat the crates and load the trucks from there. (I donʼt remember ever shipping lob- sters TO Canada in that period of time.) Iʼve written extensively about my ex- periences in growing up on Beals Island, going in our lobster smacks, using our boats, driving our lobster trucks, and early lobster boat races in Beals and Jonesport. In my


story entitled “LOBSTERS: A 1950s TRIP IN A LOBSTER SMACK” I give complete descriptions of wet well lobster smacks and lobster cars. A number of these narratives and others have been published. Operating the lobster business on the local level was interesting and exciting, and it had its risks and drawbacks. It was very challenging, with a lot of heavy hard work and long hours. The buying business closed at the end of the day when the last of “our” boats came in, whenever that would be. Running a lobster smack day and night year round was a lot of responsibility, as was keeping your trucks properly licensed, insured, and registered for Canadian and interstate commerce, with capable drivers. All things considered, it was a good way to earn a living. And, along the way you got to help a lot of people and churches. Buying lobsters, taken in total context, was a rewarding enterprise, and, it was a great learning experience. Iʼm thankful to report that after more than 40 years as a lobster dealer Dad was able to sell the still viable prospering lobster buying business.


This article, like about all of the other


pieces Iʼve written, has come from memory. I wish I had taken more pictures when I was involved in this work, but I did get some. Following are a few selected photographs that will illustrate something of what it was like buying lobsters.


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as Master of the AMERICAN PROGRESS motor-tanker. Susan then was lucky enough to become a Portland Harbor pilot, a job she had always wanted. She worked with the Pilot’s Association until her untimely death. Though her career was very important


to her, Susan’s true passion in life was for family and friends. In 1998, she married her beloved husband Glenn Daukas and they built a life together in the Cape Elizabeth area. In 2001, Susan began yet another ca- reer; this time as a mother! Glenn and Susan welcomed their fi rst son Louis in to their world, later to be joined by their youngest son Rigel. As with everything else, Susan excelled at motherhood and realized that it was her true ‘dream-job!’ She always said that she loved her boys ‘To Infi nity and Beyond!’


Susan loved to travel and she loved be- ing active. She ran road races and triathlons and enjoyed simply working out and training with her friends. Her greatest joy however was just spending summer days on Sebec Lake with Glenn and the boys. In her hectic life, the simple pleasure of fl oating in an in- ner tube or sitting on the porch at camp and gazing out across the lake meant the world to her.


Susan was very spiritual and active in her church. She was also very active in many professional organizations like the Propeller Club of Portland and was the fi rst female voted into the Portland Marine So- ciety since its inception in 1796. Susan was also a member of the Board of Trustees for Maine Maritime Academy. Susan was very involved in the Portland waterfront commu- nity and was grateful to them for the respect and encouragement they showed her. Susan lived her life so fully and touched so many other lives. With Susan, the words, friends and family, were pretty much in- terchangeable. She will be so very sorely missed by all.


Susan is survived by her loving hus- band Glenn, and her sons, Louis and Rigel of Cape Elizabeth; her mother Marlene


Clark; brother Joe Clark, his wife Lisa, and their daughters, Amanda and Lauren; sister JaneyMcGown and her husband Jeff; her sister Jill Alves, her husband Chris, and their sons, Christopher and Nicholas; and her brother Chris Clark; all of Norridgewock. A service for Susan was held at St.


Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Cape Elizabeth on 14 September. Donations in Susan’s memory can be made to: The Chol- angiocarcinoma Foundation, 5526 West 13400 South, #510, Salt Lake City, Utah 84096 http://www.cholangiocarcinoma. org/


Sturgis R. Haskins SORRENTO – Sturgis R. Haskins, 72, died unexpectedly 29 September, at a Bangor hospital. He was the son of Reginald and Helen Haskins. Sturgis grew up in Sorrento, where he attended the local grammar school and Sumner High School. He also attended the University of Maine at Machias and the University of Maine, Orono. In 1967-1968 he spent a year at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He also later attended classes at the New School for Social Research, New York City. Whether living in New York in the 1960s or Boston in the 1970s, Sturgis re- turned home summers to sail on his beloved Frenchmen’s Bay and other areas along the Maine coast. Sturgis had a keen interest in and knowledge of local and Maine history, literature, art, architecture and boating. He also became a fi ne and prolifi c photographer, amassing a large collection of pictures of Maine people, places and events. He was well-known statewide and beyond for his encyclopedic knowledge and expertise in the classes of New England boats. Sturge was both a junior and senior Maine sailing champion. For years he worked as a sailing instructor, teaching many young people and even some famous people how to sail. He also enjoyed the game of croquet


Continued on Page 20.


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