CASTINE – Paul Adams Stearns, 85, instructor, ship’s engineer, marine illustrator, died Dec. 19, 2004, at his home in Castine. He was born Sept. 6, 1919, in New York, N.Y., one of four children of Winthrop and Nella (Whitney) Stearns. As a child, Paul and his family would travel by train and steamship to Rockland, Maine where they would spend summers on North Haven Island. A love of Maine, the ocean, and ships attracted him to become a member of the first class of Maine Maritime Academy, 1943-1. (because of the war, there were two classes that year), which is still known as the “Solid 28” by it’s 28 graduates. During the war Paul served as an engineer aboard various Liberty ships, making runs to Murmansk in the former Soviet Union. In 1946, Paul married Florence Monaghan and returned to Castine as an instructor at the Academy. He was employed by International Terminal Operating Company at ports in Portland, Montreal, New York, Goose Bay Labrador, and Baffin Island. He and his family moved around the North East, but they would spend as much time as possible at the “camp” in Castine, always working on building projects. Upon retirement, the family moved to Castine year-round where he could be by the water and work on India ink and watercolor ship illustrations. Paul was a member of the Maine Maritime Academy Alumni Association and Portland Marine Society. Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Florence of Castine; sons, Paul Jr. and Randy, both of Castine, and Waring of South Portland; grandsons, Corey and Sam of Castine; sister, Barbara of Castine; brother, Whitney of Medford Leas, N.J.; as well as nieces and nephews. Visitation for family and friends will be 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004, at the Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport. A graveside funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, at Castine Cemetery, Castine, with Pastor Allen Myers officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul’s memory may be made to Maine Maritime Academy Alumni Association, Castine, ME 04421, or to Hancock County HomeCare Hospice, P.O. Box 156, Water Street, Blue Hill, ME 04614.
PAUL ADAMS STEARNS
