Herbert Collingwood Perkins, 76, died Sept. 14 at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
He was born Dec. 24, 1934 to Thelma Wheeler and Thurston Perkins of Northport, Long Island, N.Y. As a boy he enjoyed camping and fishing – hobbies he would enjoy for most of his life. One of his first jobs as a young man was as a gravedigger’s helper. Herb was an adventurous young man having successfully run away from private school in Connecticut only to be apprehended in Rhode Island at a friend’s home. He worked on Long Island Sound as a clam raker and on his uncle’s oyster dredge until he left to attend Stevens Point College in Wisconsin.
Herb married early in life and moved to California where he had three boys, Michael, Brant and James Perkins. There Herb worked as a sea-going scientist for National Marine Fisheries. After only a few years, he sought a transfer to bring his young family to Maine. He quickly grew into part of the community – hunting, fishing and trapping with his boys and friends. He enjoyed many years doing marine science at McKown Point for the federal government and the Maine Department of Marine Resources, where he got to know the fishermen who became his lifelong friends.
His laughter and singing could be heard echoing through the Thistle Inn or the Boothbay Country Club clubhouse many times as he enjoyed the company of friends. He also loved archeology and spent hours hunting for arrowheads on the beach and volunteering at a dig one summer.
On April 25, 1982 Herb married the love of his life, Star Mosetter Topinka, with whom he shared 30 wonderful years. Kathleen Perkins was born three years later – the first Perkins girl anyone could remember in five generations. He cherished his many evenings singing and dancing her to sleep and chose an early retirement so he could be home with her before and after school hours. She was his constant companion.
A private family service was held at home honoring his wishes to have a bagpiper play “Flowers of the Forest.” He now rests in the sunlight woods where he loved to work and sit.
He is survived by his wife, Star Perkins; children, Michael Perkins, Brant Perkins, James Perkins and Kathleen Perkins; step-children, John Topinka and Jori Topinka Bullemer; grandchildren, Marielle Perkins, Jason Perkins, Quinton Perkins, Victoria Perkins and Kyle Perkins; step-grandchildren, Marin Topinka, Anneliese Topinka, Soli Bullemer and Bergen Bullemer; great-granddaughter, Alicia Perkins; and nephew, John Perkins and family.
If you choose – Herb would be honored to have his friends play a series of cribbage, round of golf or cast a fly on a nearby stream in his memory.