Andrew Compton “Andy” Holmes, 89

Southport, Maine

Andrew Compton “Andy” Holmes, 89, died July 1, 2023 at Lincoln Health Miles Campus in Damariscotta.

Andy was born Nov. 4, 1933, in Middletown, Connecticut and graduated from The Albany Academy in 1951, Wesleyan University with a B.A. in chemistry in 1955, and from the University of Pennsylvania with an M.S. in 1958. Andy and his father owned and operated Camp Ettowah for boys in Fryeburg, Maine, for many years. Beyond being a valuable educational opportunity, Andy’s work at the camp spawned a desire in him to work with youngsters.

Andy began his career as a teacher of chemistry and physics and became assistant headmaster then headmaster over the years at several prominent schools and academy’s, including North Yarmouth Academy, Belvidere School, Oak Grove Coburn, and Berwick Academy.

Andy had a lifetime love of music. He was an accomplished singer with a resonant tenor voice. His hobbies included the building and playing of pipe organs, construction of any kind, model trains, and boating. He founded various travel companies over the years and worked in the travel industry for over 56 years.

He held a U.S. Coast Guard Ship Masters’ License and operated a six-passenger charter business with his wife Louise on their 42-foot sloop named T-Bear.

Andy worked for FEMA for a period in 1990s as a boat and harbor specialist, assisting displaced live-aboard boat owners after destructive hurricanes, including Hurricane Iniki in 1992, when he spent six weeks on Kauai, in Hawaii.

Among his many accomplishments was being the Commodore of the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club (BHYC). In this role and in subsequent years Andy was actively involved and chaired the Boothbay Harbor Club Regatta for 30 years. He also actively managed the Junior Sailing Program there, which has seen many participants become competitive sailors later in life.

One of Andy’s proudest (and most challenging) accomplishments was his painstaking and loving restoration of Gypsy Bear, a 42-foot 1938 Chester Clement wooden lobster yacht that had been Louise’s family boat when she was a child. Moored at BHYC, Andy and Louise enjoyed being on Gypsy Bear for 20 wonderful summers.

Andy was a “do-er,” and his family and friends, colleagues and community were the fortunate beneficiaries. The sailing community in midcoast Maine will miss his enthusiasm.