VERONA ISLAND – Dr. Arthur M. Joost Jr., 87, died unexpectedly Sept. 22, 2006, at his home. He was born April 19, 1919, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Arthur M. and Helen (Sinclair Smith) Joost. Dr. Joost was a general practitioner for 35 years, serving the towns of Bucksport, Verona Island and Orland. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, Class of 1937, where he was selected for membership in the Cum Laude Society. He went on to graduate from Princeton University, Class of 1941. While there, Arthur studied classical languages. His translations of Latin and Greek texts merited numerous awards. He rowed on the crew team at both schools. Arthur graduated from Cornell Medical School, Class of 1945. His last year was in the Medical Field Service School of the U.S. Army. He was sent to Vienna, Austria, in 1945, to serve the occupation Army. He had the good fortune of working under the heart surgeon Dr. Christian Barnard. He was discharged from the Army with the rank of captain. He completed his internship at Brooklyn Hospital, New York and his residency at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, New London, Conn. It was here he met his wife, Evelyn, who was interning as a laboratory technician. They were married for 57 years. Arthur’s interests were many. He was fond of animals, especially horses. He loved riding through his fields and woods with his three daughters. He also enjoyed skiing with the family at Sugarloaf and Bald Mountain. Arthur was a sailor; growing up on the eastern end of Long Island, N.Y.; sailing became an important part of his life. After moving to Maine, he had a 28-foot sloop built on Islesboro. He and Evelyn spent many weekends sailing beautiful Penobscot Bay and Blue Hill Bay. He also enjoyed bird hunting with his English setter, Queenie, and duck hunting with his two devoted labs, Tug and Jack. Arthur was an ornithologist. For years he studied birds and learned to identify a myriad of species; their notes and their songs. He kept meticulous records of where the birds were seen, the year and the gender. He had a passion for planting shrubs and trees. He was also very fond of native flowers. Each year he brought Evelyn a bouquet of the first May flowers in bloom. The white oak was his favorite tree. He planted many over his property, the oldest along the farm road. He always enjoyed walking up to what he called his canopy of oak trees, Arturo’s Quercerto, and sitting under them. This will be his final resting-place, where also rest his two loyal companions, Tug and Jack. Arthur is survived by his wife, Evelyn; his three daughters and their husbands, Victoria and Gregg Tabbutt of Bangor, Christine and Edward Booth of Verona Island, Sarah and Anthony Tomanelli of Bucksport; his grandchildren, Lucy Unger and her husband, Nielsen, Douglas Tabbutt and Nicholas, Marianna and Isabelle Tomanelli. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Elisabeth Todd. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Elm Street Congregational Church with the Rev. Linda A. Smith officiating. Arthur was very involved with the Buck Memorial Library, P.O. Box DD, Bucksport, ME 04416 and the Bucksport Historical Society, P.O. Box 798, Bucksport, ME 04416, donations may be made in his name to either of these organizations. Arrangements by Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.
DR. ARTHUR M. JOOST JR.
