Captain Robert M. Spear, 59, of Phippsburg, died April 26 at his residence after a long illness. He was born in Rockland on May 18, 1950, a son of Capt. C. W. and Bertha I. Spear of Phippsburg.
Rob graduated from Morse High School (Class of 1968) and Maine Maritime Academy at Castine in 1972. After working briefly at the Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, he sailed on numerous vessels of the Exxon Shipping Company fleet in various deck officer capacities. He left the company after sailing as master for a number of years and went directly into the employ of Coastal Corp. as a seagoing master. After five years with the Coastal fleet, he returned full time to the Maine coast and began piloting vessels on Penobscot Bay. His active piloting years with the Penobscot Bay and River Pilots were ended in 2004 due to complications resulting from his illness.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Beth) Fisher of Phippsburg, the current director of the Mid-Coast School of Technology in Rockland; and children, Julie Spear, 27, of Charlotte, N.C. and Charles D. Spear of Phippsburg (class president of the 2010 graduating class at Morse High School, Bath); brothers and sisters, Richard B. Spear and his wife Shyla of Phippsburg; Capt. John M. Spear and wife Laurel of Westport Island, Margaret Spear and husband Ed Dinger of Portland, Ore. and William T. Spear and wife Karen of Portland.
Capt. Rob will be remembered as a skilled seaman and shiphandler. His unfailing kindness and compassion for those around him, however, were his most outstanding traits. He was often seen at Morse High School events supporting student activities and local teams, both varsity and intramural. He was officially recognized at the last Morse home basketball game for his avid fan participation and loyalty despite his challenging physical limitations. Rob was pleased and proud of his children and particularly to watch the growth and participation of his son Charles through his high school years.
Rob’s parents, Capt. Bill Spear, a merchant sea captain and Port Captain for BIW in the 1950s and early 1960s and Bertha Spear, cherished this middle child. He shared their love of animals and was widely known for his kindness and integrity.
Commemorative service 1 p.m., May 1 at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. Burial, at a later date, by the family, will be in Morningside Cemetery in Phippsburg where his ashes will rest beside his beloved parents.
Memorial contributions may be made to Captain Robert M. Spear (72), Maine Maritime Academy Scholarship Fund, c/o Captain David Gelinas, Penobscot Bay and River Pilots, 18 Mortland Rd., Searsport, ME 04974; Project Graduation Class of 2010, Jay Lamont-Morse High School, Morse High School-Athletics, Scott Walker-Morse High School, 826 High Street, Bath ME 04530; Friends of Doubling Point Light, c/o Joyce G. Spencer, 140 Doubling Point Rd., Arrowsic, ME 04530; or Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St., Bath, ME 04530; Coastal Humane Society, 30 Range Rd., Brunswick, ME 04011.
Arrangements are by Desmond Funeral Home, High St., Bath.
