John:
The Brunswick and surrounding areas are a haven for individuals who could become fodder for some very interesting stories. Said haven, however, has become such by many individuals who have retired to our communities for peaceful endeavors, most having made strong presences in many fields throughout the world's arena.
During my 27 years in business in Brunswick I had countless clients who were on a first-name basis to me and whom I respected as another person buying films, photofinishing, or my other services. One was always having 20-25 rolls of movie film at a time converted to VHS tapes, and next week he and lady friend would be off & gone to go skiing in some other country, repeatedly. One day I innocently inquired what had been his professional involvement. "I was in government services." ????????????
I didn't inquire further. A lot of years later he was off to The Hague; front row seat for the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. When he passed from our midst I read that he had been way up there in CIA. I never would have known, nor asked further.
Another gentleman who was looking to retire had to have a community with a good library. He found Brunswick's Bowdoin College Library to meet his expectations; and he and the Mrs. relocated to a large condo near the college. Nice customer; quiet. I knew who he was but the public was generally unaware or respected his privacy. You, too, have enjoyed him. The world has appreciated the many results of his "Tales of the South Pacific."
Here in this island of Georgetown, at the most recent "Celebration of the Arts" there were 54 artists(various fields), most of them of international repute, represented. One is 91 years old and she's still painting, every day. Two miles below me is a quaint boathouse. 150 years ago it was a local store. You can see it in my Web site under the
"Will's Boathouse" entries of the GEORGETOWN Gallery. The building sits at the edge of a waterway that's pretty low at low tide. Will has built several fine boats there -- in my site -- and is working on a couple others. I thought it would be a good human interest story for a nationally distributed magazine.
"I suppose it might be," commented Will, "but I guess I'd rather just keep it private."
It seems that so often I've read the death notices of Jim, Ed, John, Jack, Hal, Adolph, Marguerite, so many others; and sit teary-eyed while marveling at "Wow! I never realized the true depth of that person. And we've been so fortunate for him/her."
History is awesome, and so often guarded in privacy. As my radio/television/theater school commencement speaker commented, "That's the way it is."
HR
