Gregory Allen Spring, Charles H. Bartlett, Elizabeth Nason Murrell Halpern, Michael T. Gage, George N. Price, Colonel Harrison Wendell Hodgkins
Aug 03, 2025
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate.
Note: “People We’ve Lost” is a feature of the Bar Harbor Story where we share obituaries of people that the island lost in the previous 1-2 weeks. We’re doing this because we think everyone deserves to be remembered as widely as possible. If you have an obituary for a loved one or friend that you can’t afford to place in other spaces, please let us know and we’ll share it here for you.
Gregory Allen Spring
Bar Harbor
Gregory Allen Spring, 78, died at his home on July 25, 2025. He was born in New York City on November 24, 1946, the son of Thomas Spring and Marrie Perry. Greg lived in New York and New Jersey for many years. He retired to Bar Harbor, Maine in 2009.
Greg spent his professional life in the television industry, retiring after 20 years as a Senior Vice President of Broadcast Operations at Madison Square Garden Network. His career in television included events such as sports, musicals, concerts, and documentaries. He received an Emmy Award for his role in the coverage of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Artistic in nature, Greg channeled his energy into photography. His work was displayed at art shows and galleries around Maine. He and his wife were enthusiastic world travelers and lived in Europe for part of their retirement. Greg’s travels further nurtured his passion for photography. The photographs that he took of faraway places, and the people therein, became an important part of his legacy.
He is survived by his wife, Grace Nagiecka, and his son, Thomas Karol Spring. Greg and Grace celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in June of 2025.
At Greg’s request, no service will be held at this time. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers or memorials, donations can be made to the Maine Seacoast Mission. Donate at SeacoastMission.org/donate or P.O. Box 600, Northeast Harbor, Maine, 04662.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
Charles H. Bartlett
Bar Harbor
Charles H. Bartlett, 88, died July 26, 2025, at his home with his family. He was born May 14, 1937, in Bar Harbor the son of Henry and Georgia (Richards) Bartlett.
He grew up in Town Hill and graduated in 1955 from Bar Harbor High School. He entered the U.S. Air Force and served until 1959 having been stationed for three years in Germany.
Charles met his wife Brenda (Reed) upon returning from his military service while working at the Parkadia Service Station. He enjoyed coaching Little League Baseball when his sons were young. He spent 33 years working for the Towns of Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert Public Works Departments, serving seven years as the Town of Bar Harbor Public Works Director.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years Brenda; and his three sons, Duane and wife Robin of Trenton; Chris and wife Tracy of Burlington, North Carolina; and Matt and wife Lori of Bar Harbor; twelve grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.
Graveside Services will be held at 11 a.m., September 6, 2025, at Mountain View Cemetery, Bar Harbor.
Those who desire may make contributions in Charles’s memory to Kids Corner, 81 Mt. Desert St., Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
Elizabeth Nason Murrell Halpern
Northeast Harbor
Elizabeth Nason Murrell Halpern, 86, passed away on July 17, 2025, in West Boylston, Mass. Betty was born on Feb. 11, 1939, in Portland, Maine, to Rita Nason Murrell and Maurice Murrell. She grew up in Northeast Harbor, where she was a soda “jerk” (clerk) at Murrell’s Drugstore.
She began her education in the Northeast Harbor schools before graduating from Gould Academy in 1957. She studied at Wheaton College and the University of New Hampshire, where she earned a B.A. in psychology and music in 1961. She was living in New York City when she met Gordon Halpern outside her first job at Lord & Taylor. After a few years in NYC, they moved to the Nason family’s homestead in Hampden.
After starting her family, she earned a master’s degree in education from UMO in 1974. Betty began a 25-year career in special education, spending much of her professional life in the Hampden school system. She played a pivotal role in launching both the Arts in the Curriculum initiative and the Gifted and Talented programs, efforts that reflected her belief in nurturing creativity and potential in every child.
For many summers and after retiring from teaching, she was the face of the Kimball Shop Boutique in Northeast Harbor. Her impeccable taste and appreciation for beautiful clothes were matched only by her gracious presence.
Elizabeth found joy playing the piano and sharing music with others as a longtime member of the Acadia Choral Society. She was an enthusiastic Red Sox fan and rarely missed an episode of General Hospital. An avid cook and baker, she loved entertaining friends and family with gourmet meals, pies, jam and homemade maple syrup.
She is lovingly remembered by her children: Gregory Halpern (Annellen McNamara) of Waltham, Mass.; Andrew Halpern (Rana Rubida) of Denver, Colo.; and Robin Halpern Cavanaugh (Mike Cavanaugh) of West Boylston, Mass.; and by her grandchildren: Aidan, Charles, and Michael Cavanaugh; Ellie and Benjamin Halpern.
Betty’s legacy is one of vitality, generosity, humor and enduring love. Donations in her memory may be made to Maine Seacoast Mission and Friends of Acadia. Celebration of life services will take place in the near future in both Waltham, Mass., and on MDI. She will be laid to rest with her parents in Hampden, Maine.
Michael T. Gage
Northeast Harbor
Michael T. Gage, 81, of Northeast Harbor, Maine, and Naples, Fla, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2025, after a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Sylvia Swanson Gage; his sons Tom, Mike, and Tim Gage and Tim’s wife Xia; as well as his stepson Eric Swanson, his wife Lindsay, and Michael’s beloved granddaughters Elie and Mac Swanson, whom he cherished deeply.
Born on Nov. 19, 1943, in Detroit, Mich., to Edward and Anne Gage, Michael was the second eldest of four children. He grew up during the postwar automotive boom, symbolized by his family’s Gage Oldsmobile dealership on Detroit’s famed Woodward Avenue. A short time after graduating from Western Michigan University in 1965, Michael ventured to Boulder, Colo., where he successfully established Mike Gage Chevrolet. His entrepreneurial spirit later led him to found the Pegasus Dealership Group in Charlottesville, Va., building franchises for prestigious brands such as BMW, Porsche, Audi, Kia, and Suzuki. Known for his hands-on approach, Michael often test-drove the newest models himself, giving his signature stamp of approval: “This is a nice driving car.”
Beyond his professional achievements, Michael was an avid sportsman and outdoor enthusiast. While he enjoyed skiing and skating in the winter, golf was his true passion. The golf course served as both a place of business and relaxation, where he spent countless hours with friends, family, and community members, particularly enjoying the Friday afternoon scramble at Northeast Harbor Golf Club. Michael was also an avid reader and animal lover, a passion he shared with his wife Sylvia. One of his most cherished companions was Murphy, a dog he famously rescued from the streets near his dealership.
Known affectionately as “Mr. Pink” for his positive nature and ability to see the world through rose-colored glasses, Michael will be remembered for his warm personality and genuine interest in others’ lives. He loved dressing up for occasions both big and small, working any room with friendly gestures and meaningful conversations. A true friend who would go out of his way to help others, Michael’s kind-hearted nature and intellectually stimulating conversations left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
A memorial service celebrating Michael’s life will be held at the Northeast Harbor Golf Club on Sept. 4, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to local animal rescue organizations in Michael’s honor.
George N. Price
Seal Cove and Southwest Harbor
George N. Price, 90, died on July 27, 2025, in Portland. He was born on April 27, 1935, the son of Lyle G. (Zuehl) and Marian J. (Andersen) Price in Elgin, Ill., where his prairie origins and traits were formed and fed. His only sibling, Joann, predeceased him in 2008.
George attended a rural one-room elementary school, a midwestern tri-community secondary school, Northwestern University, B.A. (1957), and Virginia Theological Seminary which conferred his M. Div. (1960) and Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (1991). Ordained deacon and priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, he worked successively at Christ Church, Winnetka, Ill.; St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury, Evanston, Ill.; St. James Cathedral (Loop chapel) and St. Chrysostom Church, both Chicago, Ill. There his parish ministry in 1968 intersected directly with violent civil disturbance, the Democratic National Convention, and the Chicago 7 and the Medical Committee for Human Rights — all reported by The New York Times (8/29/68). In 1962 George had married his beloved Harriet Farr Hemenway, a Vermonter. They and their children, born 1967 and 1968 in Chicago, lived two blocks from Lincoln Park — the site of the demonstrations.
Early in George’s ministry, the then-Episcopal bishop of Chicago had encouraged him to consider moving to work in another of the city churches, emphasizing “you will love the people there.” George replied to the bishop, “I can love the people anywhere.” So it was in 1969 when he declined the call to Trinity Church, Wall Street, N.Y., and accepted the call of the mission and parish of St. Andrew (Seal Cove) and St. John Church, Southwest Harbor, Maine. It was there on Mount Desert Island that George had a long-term pastorate of 27 years.
The Diocese of Maine had a new progressive Episcopal bishop. It was an era of change: Ecumenism, cleric collegiality, lay ministry, Vietnam war protests, peace vigils, rice and tea suppers, open-door church policy, Head Start, Saturday school, drugs education in youth group, ordination of women, Prayer Book Revision, inclusive language, liturgical mime, Arcady Music, Maine Indian Land Claims, Ministry of Healing, Transfiguration Day climbing of Flying Mountain, seminary interns, Companion Dioceses of Maine & Liberia, Summer Festival of the Arts, Tea House Trio, food pantry, endowment auctions, baked bean & fish chowder public suppers, property improvement, Sabbatical, landscaping and gardening. All the while for the common good, Main Street and pastoral care were routine. George thrived in this coastal haven fulfilling the parish mission statement “to worship God and help people.”
In the wider world, George had been a 1958 Winant Volunteer in Stepney E1 London with a cadre of Anglican Franciscans. Orientation on the island of Iona, Scotland, proved to be a positive lifelong changing experience. In Maine his primary outreach activity was Community Health and Counseling Services, which he helped to lead as president and in sustaining roles in Bangor and the four adjoining counties. He frequently returned for learning and inspiration at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va., where he served as a Trustee of the Board of Directors and which awarded George an honorary doctorate for his pastoral ministry. In his retirement, George resolved to sustain a quiescent ministry. He and Harriet moved to Portland, Maine, in 1997, welcoming new opportunities, friendships, family, grandchildren, and evermore a garden.
George is survived by his wife, Harriet, their two children, Nathan H. Price and Katrina A. (Price) Ojakaar, their spouses and children, his niece, Lori Matthews and her children.
To view George’s memorial page, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com.
The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at St. Luke’s Cathedral, 143 State St., Portland. — All welcome.
Colonel Harrison Wendell Hodgkins
Silver Springs, Maryland and Bar Harbor
On Tuesday, July 29th, 2025, Harrison Wendell Hodgkins peacefully passed away at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, surrounded by his family.
Wendell was born and grew up in Bar Harbor. In July 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in Okinawa, Japan during World War II. He returned home to finish high school, and subsequently enrolled at the University of Maine where he met his beloved wife Claire Levasseur. Claire and Wendell married not long after their college graduations and moved to the Allied Free Territory of Trieste (Italy) where Wendell was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 351st Infantry Regiment. After returning to the United States, Wendell and Claire eventually moved their growing family to Washington, DC and then to Kensington, MD. In 1962 he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He worked for the Department of Defense early in his career, then moved to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, retiring as the head of the MSHA Division of Management Research. Wendell was also a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, becoming Deputy Commander of the 352nd CA Command. In his retirement he served as an officer in the Civil Affairs Association and received the Distinguished Member of the Regiment award in recognition of his many years of service.
Wendell was a keen tennis player, enjoyed sports, music, learning new technology, and spending time on his beloved Mount Desert Island. He was devoted to family and friends and having converted to the Catholic Church at the age of sixteen, his faith was a central part of his identity and his actions. His gentle nature, silly sense of humor, and mischievous smile will be missed by all who knew him.
Wendell is survived by his wife of 73 years, Claire, his two daughters Yvonne (Joe) and Lisa (Richard), his son Gerald (Marissa), grandchildren Aaron (Brittany), Joanna, Harrison, Tommy, and Camille, and great granddaughter Aylyn. He was predeceased by his son Stephen.
Graveside services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, August 8, 2024, at Ledgelawn Cemetery in his hometown of Bar Harbor, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Wendell’s memory may be made to Catholic Charities Maine: P.O. Box 10660, Portland, Maine, 04104.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Brochures of Maine.
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