PORTLAND – Earl Martin Tibbetts, educator, camp director and antiquarian, 84, died Friday, May 20, 2011, at his home. He was born April 3, 1927, in Montville, a son of Wesley V. Tibbetts and Emily (Pratt) Tibbetts.
He attended schools in Montvillle and Liberty. After graduating from Walker Memorial High School, Mr. Tibbetts completed a course of study in Army specialized training at the University of Maine and Norwich University. He then enlisted in the Infantry Replacement Training Center program at Camp Blanding, Fla. He was honorably discharged from the Army Dec. 31, 1946. Mr. Tibbetts graduated from the University of Maine receiving a bachelor’s degree and later received a master’s degree from Gorham State Teachers College. He accepted a teaching position in Jonesport, and in 1955 was recruited for a teaching position in Calais. In 1957 he became principal at Calais High School. Several class trips to Washington, D.C., were made and Mr. Tibbetts often recalled the generosity of Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, who in one letter to Mr. Tibbetts commented, “I have thought of your fine looking group many times since their visit to my office. They were so alert, bright and clean cut. I was extremely proud of them and that they were from Maine. Surely we have nothing to fear as far as the future is concerned when we have such fine young people.” Mr. Tibbetts was invited back to Calais by one of the graduating classes who insisted he speak at the reunion. That sunny August day also involved many laughs while riding on a float in the parade with his daughter and former students around town and across the bridge to Canada. Mr. Tibbetts spent nearly 25 summers in the position of camp director at Camp Spaulding, Penacook, N.H. It was there he met his future wife, Nancy (Newman) Tibbetts, who was pursuing a summer job as camp counselor as part of her social work curriculum. Earl and Nancy married in Swampscott, Mass., during a blizzard in 1958, and honeymooned in New York City. In later years Mr. Tibbetts was amused that their honeymoon included a brief elevator encounter with Fidel Castro in the Empire State Building. Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts resided in Calais prior to moving to Portland in 1960. He taught at Jack Junior High School, Portland, for nearly 20 years before finishing his teaching career at Lincoln Junior High, Stevens Avenue. During his teaching career, he coached track, chess and model clubs. He had many rich stories regarding scorekeeping basketball games on Beal’s Island. Just two weeks ago, Mr. Tibbetts and his son-in-law opened up the family cottage on Lake St. George, Liberty, with Mr. Tibbetts, commenting that it was his 61st year doing so. Time spent at the cottage was very special to Mr. Tibbetts. He particularly enjoyed having Jim, Lynne and Alison Mooney, as well as the crew from Maryland as neighbors. Many a tale was told around campfires and attempting to remove beaver dams from the nearby culvert became a group activity. At one point after his retirement he had the opportunity to spend four hours a day fishing every day and became the self proclaimed “fisherman of the lake,” a title he truly deserved. Mr. Tibbetts was past treasurer for Portland Federal Teachers Credit Union and Pine Tree Post Card Club. He was a member of Quantabacook Lodge AF & AM No. 129, Searsmont. He was active in several other organizations and once appeared on a “Bill Green’s Maine” segment.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Nancy (Newman) Tibbetts. Surviving are his daughter, Susan (Tibbetts) Kezal and her husband, Steven, of Gorham; a brother, Dr. John Tibbetts of San Leandro, Calif.; two nieces, two nephews; along with several cousins and his beloved Maine coon cat.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, where funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, May 26. Private Interment service will take place at a later date. Donations in Earl’s memory may be made to Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Road, Casco, ME 04015; Animal Refuge League, attention: Gayle Dunnigan, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098 or a charity of your choice. For additional information and to sign Earl’s guest book, please visit
www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.