David R. Getchell Sr., 89

Appleton, Maine

Dave Getchell, Sr., author, editor and outdoorsman, died as he wished, at home and surrounded by family, Nov. 10, 2018. Over the course of 22 years, he was managing editor and editor of the “Maine Coast Fisherman,” “National Fisherman,” and founding editor of the “Small Boat Journal” and “The Mariner’s Catalog” in Camden, Maine. Later, he co-founded the Maine Island Trail and created the Georges Highland Path, a 40-mile hiking trail system in the midcoast of Maine, for Georges River Land Trust. In 1994, he edited and was lead author of “The Outboard Boater’s Handbook.”

Active in the founding or operation of several nonprofit environmental organizations, he always made time for his favorite sport of surf fishing. He also partnered in 1980 with mountaineer Geof Heath of Hammondsport, N.Y., in a month-long, two-man climbing expedition along 400 miles of the Labrador coast they accessed in an 18-foot open boat.

In the early 1980s, he and his wife Dorrie made a number of long bicycle trips, the most ambitious being a five-month, 8,000-mile, cross-country tour to the U.S. West Coast and back to Maine. Both considered this a high point in a happy marriage of 67 years.

Getchell was born in Bangor, the son of George V. and Nettie R. Getchell. He graduated from Bangor High School, attended Bowdoin College and graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in journalism. He served in the Army as an infantry training officer.

Editor’s Note: Nim Marsh, Point East’s former editor, once worked for Dave Getchell, I believe at “National Fisherman.” Over the years Nim has spoken of Dave on many occasions, saying that he was not only one of the most generous people he’s ever met, but also one of the finest editors and writers he ever worked with in his long career, which spanned many publications. Given the fact that he’s only spoken this way about Dave, I thought it was worth mentioning.