Konrad Alfred Ulbrich, 68, of Warren, passed away on March 28 at Pen Bay Medical Center surrounded by family and friends after a sudden and severe blood infection.
A resident of Warren since 1978, Konrad and his wife Louise and two children moved to Maine with the intention of raising sheep; however, he had a number of projects that included running sheep out to the local islands, clearing and bulldozing pastureland, introducing the first round hay baler to the local farming community, rebuilding a fishing wharf in Port Clyde, harvesting blueberry land near his home, and late in life, overseeing the restoration of a 52-foot 1930 classic racing yacht that he renamed Hayday in his workshop at the farm.
The son of German immigrants, Koni grew up in Wellesley, Mass.
He was an All American swimmer at Harvard College, class of 1960. An ROTC student at Harvard, he served two years as a Naval Officer, and spent most of his active duty as manager of the athletic club at the Pentagon.
Growing up sailing on the Cape, Koni made his way into the racing community in Newport, R.I. and eventually sailed as crew in the America’s Cup trials on the American Eagle.
He attended Harvard Business School, and afterwards, with his partner Joseph Collins, bought the Dover Ski Binding factory in West Concord, Mass. They manufactured early roof racks for cars and helped to start Navtec, a company that designs cutting edge stainless steel sailing rigging and they also designed the rigging for the glass pyramid at the entrance to the Louvre.
Koni and Joe eventually started Concord-Littleton Properties, renting commercial space to small businesses and artists in West Concord and Littleton, Mass. Among many projects in Maine, Konrad bought and ran the Port Clyde General Store for several years in the mid ‘70s. Years later with partner John Boulware he started St. George Marine, an active fishing wharf in Port Clyde.
Having always been interested in farming, he embarked on different livestock projects, and cut hay every summer since 1978.
A fearless critic of local politics, Konrad was a colorful, infamous, devoted, and beloved member of the local community.
Konrad is survived by the following devoted family members: wife, Louise Ulbrich of Warren; daughters, Cecile and son-in-law Stewart Tucker and their child Amelia of Weston, Mass., and Wilhelmina Ulbrich of Belmont, Mass.; brother, Dick Ulbrich of Wellesley, Mass.; and sister, Heidi Ulbrich of Falmouth, Mass.
There will be a celebration of Konrad’s life at the launching of the Hayday to be announced later this spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Konrad Ulbrich Memorial Grant Fund, Medomak Valley Regional High School, c/o Louise Ulbrich, P.O. Box 152, Warren, ME 04864.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
