Clifford “Chummy” Huskins, 94, of Boothbay Harbor, died peacefully at his beloved Wiscasset Green Assisted Living Facility on Sept. 17. He was born in Clarks Harbor, Nova Scotia on July 17, 1916, first child of Edgar and Sadie Swimm Huskins. He moved to Boston shortly after his birth and to West Southport when he was about seven years old. He attended the West Southport School and Boothbay Harbor High School.
His first job was at Charlie Pinkham’s Store in West Southport. He later worked at Samples Shipyard, and was steward on two large yachts out of Boothbay Harbor. He served briefly in the Navy during WWII. He cooked at several local restaurants including the Oak Grove Hotel, Robin’s Luncheonette and Bob White’s Restaurant. He also cooked at the University of Maine in Brunswick, Orono and Farmington, the Elm Hotel in Auburn and was chef at Ocean Point Inn. He spent much of his career with Sea & Shore Fisheries (now the Maine Department of Marine Resources) as a cook and marine patrol officer on the boats Explorer and Guardian. He put on lobster bakes for the State for dignitaries visiting Maine and also in Ohio and Washington, D.C. After his retirement he was chef at the Lawnmeer Inn and later worked as an interior painter and paper hanger.
He married the former Virginia Frey in 1938 and lived with her in her family home in West Boothbay Harbor. They were married for 57 years.
He was very proud of being a 32nd Degree Mason with Sea Side Lodge # 144, where he had been a member for 67 years. He cooked all the meals for his lodge, sometimes for 60-100 people, until he was 90 years old.
His hobbies were fishing, fly tying, playing cribbage and cooking. He was a member of the Coastal Club.
He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia; sisters, Lillian Huskins, Kathleen Bowers and Marion Roberts; and brothers, Norman Huskins, Alfred Huskins and Walter Huskins.
He is survived by daughter, Jean Chenoweth and husband Stanley of Eustis; granddaughter, Catherine Chenoweth of Coplin Plantation; and several nieces and nephews.
For his 93rd birthday at the Green he cooked baked stuffed lobster and strawberry shortcake for everyone. For his 94th he cooked shrimp newburg.
Masonic service and celebration of his life 2 p.m., Sat., Oct. 2 at the Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay. There will be catered refreshments after the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boothbay Region District Nursing Association, c/o Cally Aldrich, P.O. Box 417, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 or to the residents’ recreation fund at Wiscasset Green, 21 Washington St., Wiscasset, ME 04578.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, Boothbay.
