Emery “Rip” R. Jordan, 86, of East Boothbay, passed away very peacefully at the VA Togus Hospice House on Oct. 14 after a long illness. He was born on Aug. 20, 1927 in Lewiston, the eldest son of Elmer and Gladys Jordan.
After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, Rip spent his entire career in law enforcement in Maine. From 1951 to 1972, he worked his way up through the ranks of the Maine State Police, beginning as a trooper in southern Maine. When he retired with the rank of Captain in 1972, he was the Director of the Maine State Bureau of Identification, in Augusta, which acquired the control of the State Police Crime Laboratory and the Bureau of Criminal Records. His expertise in firearms identification, fingerprint identification and crime scene photography allowed him to provide expert testimony in every superior court in Maine.
After retiring from the Maine State Police, he spent 10 years in criminal justice instruction, including the Maine State Police Academy and the Maine Municipal Police Officer Academy. He was also an Associate Professor of Law Enforcement at the University of Maine, Bangor Community College.
Finally, Rip was chosen by Sen. William S. Cohen to be the state’s top federal law enforcement official. His nomination was approved by then President Reagan. As marshal, he was in charge of arresting federal suspects and fugitives, handling property seizures related to those arrests, transporting and housing federal prisoners and securing federal courts in Maine. He retired from the position in 1990, having marked his career with “thorough professionalism and dedication to making law enforcement work better in Maine,” according to Sen. William Cohen.
Rip held a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maine. In addition, he graduated from the Maine State Police Academy, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Academy, and attended many advanced training courses in Homicide Investigation, Firearms, Fingerprint schools and Photographic seminars.
Upon his final retirement in 1990, Rip followed his passions of restoring antique vehicles, giving of his time and energies at the Boothbay Railway Museum, and gardening. He also spent many happy hours with his wife and grandchildren, fishing and hunting from their camp.
He was predeceased by his son, Michael in 1976; wife, Rachel in 2005; brother, Kenneth Jordan; and sister, Jacqueline Birge.
He is survived by daughter, Michelle Jordan Moroney and husband Allen; grandchildren, Michael P. Moroney and Rachel A. Moroney, all of West Bath; extended family of nieces and nephews; youngest sister, Shirley Witte; and several wonderful caregivers that he opened his heart and home to in his last years. His “village” was a tremendous gift to him and his family.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m., Mon., Nov. 4 at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Boothbay Harbor. He will be laid to rest with his wife and son in the Evergreen Cemetery in Boothbay.
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.
