SEAL COVE – Wayne Peter Libhart Sr., 81, died Feb. 17, 2009, with his loving family at his side, at a Bangor hospital. He was born Dec. 1, 1927, in Brewer, son of Roland E. and Olivine (Tardiff) Libhart. Whether you knew him as brother, captain, mister or dad, he was a hard working lawyer and loving with his friends and family. Wayne dropped out of Brewer High School to join the Navy at the end of World War II. He then went on to Harvard College and graduated in 1951. Having been in the NROTC during college, he was commissioned in the Navy the day before marrying Ginny Bell, in February 1951. He served on a destroyer and minesweeper during the Korean War. He returned to his studies, attending Harvard Law graduating in 1957. In 2001, he finally received a diploma from Brewer High School. Wayne and Ginny then moved to Brewer, where Wayne opened his law practice and later expanded to Ellsworth and had several associates throughout the years, including David Cox, Robert Cox and then partners of Ferris, Dearborn, Willey and Ferm. He was a member of Penobscot and Hancock County Bar, and practiced for more than 35 years. While living in Brewer, he was a member of Penobscot County Salmon Club, Brewer Kiwanis, Penobscot County Conservation Club, Bangor Naval Reserve Unit, where he achieved the rank of captain, an active member and president of the Harvard Club, and was the first president of Brewer Jaycees. He was a sponsor of Police Athletic League, Brewer. In the mid-60s he served in the Maine Legislature representing Brewer. Returning to his roots, he moved his family to Seal Cove in 1976, where he continued his career and became active in community service and town meeting. He was a member of Tremont Historical Society and many committees and other organizations. He was honored by receiving the Harvey Kelley Good Citizen Award for the town of Tremont in 2008. He also had many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. An avid outdoorsman, Wayne loved the state of Maine with its four seasons. Some of his best times were spent at his hunting camp in Township 28 with his good friend, Arnie Drillon; son, Peter; son-in-law, Robert; and other good friends and family members. He also loved traveling, fishing, snowmobiling, boating, skating, swimming, skiing, hiking, biking and camping. He authored 10 Downeast murder mysteries. He drew and painted. Although many of you will remember him as a tough, no nonsense lawyer, he had a very tender, affectionate nature as well. Some of his favorite things included Brittany Spaniels, musicals: “Camelot,” “South Pacific,” and “My Fair Lady,” lobster, skim milk and cookies or doughnuts, poetry, Fox News, the Patriots and Ginny’s cooking. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Virginia “Ginny” (Bell) Libhart of Seal Cove; one son, W. Peter Libhart Jr. and wife, Mary, of Bangor; two daughters, Karen Jo Young and husband, Joseph, of Corea and Kimberly Kramp and husband, Robert, of Seal Cove; one sister, Gail Anderson of Ellsworth; a sister-in-law, Joanne Davis of Tremont; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth and Andrew Young, Dana Libhart, Ebony and Jennifer Kramp, and Kalee and Michael Hamlin. Friends are invited to call 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Bar Harbor, with Father John O’Hara officiating. Spring internment will be at Head of Harbor Cemetery, Bass Harbor. Contributions in Wayne’s memory may be made to Disabled Veterans’, P.O. Box 3415, Augusta, ME 04330-3415 or Town of Tremont Relief Fund, P.O. Box 65, Bernard, ME 04612. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
WAYNE PETER LIBHART, ESQ.
