Edgar Drisko, local lobsterman, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family in Bristol on the morning of Aug. 10. Born in Addison on July 24, 1931, he was the son of Donald and Evangeline (Alley) Drisko.
Edgar grew up on Beals Island and attended schools there. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served on a LSMR 520, rocket launching ship. Upon his honorable discharge as a Seaman 3rd Class Boatswain Mate, he returned to Beals for a short time before moving to New Harbor in 1960.
Edgar started fishing at the age of seven, and did so his entire life until retiring in 2006 at the age of 75. He was an innovator in the local fishing community, designing traps with shrimp twine heads, traps which are still used today. As innovative as he was, he remained a traditionalist when it came to wooden boats. His first boat was the Lizzie P, he moved up to the Donnie Jo, and ended his career aboard the Margie Fay which was a Carroll Lowell design. Those designs are still used to this day at the John’s Bay Boat Company in South Bristol, where Edgar could be found at many boat launches.
After retiring, he could often be found volunteering at the Fishermen’s Museum at the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. He had a tremendous gift for telling stories which fit in perfectly at the museum. Even after 85 years of stories, he was still telling new ones to his family until just days before his death.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Marjory Drisko of Bristol; son, Donald F. Drisko and partner Laurie Crane of New Harbor; daughter, Mona Alley and husband Tim of Walpole; stepchildren, Cheryl Preble and husband Arliss, Elaine Bechtel and husband Larry, and Laurie Martin and husband Alan; grandchildren, Hayley Drisko Chambers and husband Jed, Jessica Drisko and fiance Ian Mortimer, Sarah Alley, Luke Alley, Tracy Levesque and husband Chris, Ryan Reed, Brad Reed and wife Angel, Angela Hall and her fiance Merlin Dilley, Charlotte Martin, Jared Martin, and Colin Bechtel; and great-grandchildren, Malakai Drisko Mortimer, Taylor Levesque, Joe Levesque, Jeannie Levesque, and Hunter Reed.
A time to visit with the family will be held from 5-7 p.m., Sat., Aug. 20 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. A private burial will be held in the Village Cemetery on Beals Island, where he will be laid to rest with his parents.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Fishermen’s Museum, PO Box 263, New Harbor, ME 04554.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543.
