Edith F. Closson, Carolyn A. Hodgdon, Bruce Eric Damon.
Nov 16, 2025
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 and not behind paywalls or at a cost of $500 for people mourning. We’re free.
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.
Edith F. Closson
Tremont
Edith F. Closson, 98, died Nov. 4, 2025, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s at Brewer Rehab Center. Edith was born on March 14, 1927, in Tremont to Earl and Lyllis Farley.
Edith is survived by her children, Norman Closson Jr. and wife Sandra of Bass Harbor, Lorraine Merritt and husband Warren of Harrington, Anthony (Tony) Closson of Warren, Richard Closson and wife MaryEllen of Ellsworth and Sharon Garvin and husband Mike of Hancock. Her surviving siblings: Marcia Beal, Earlene Kelley and Tom Farley. Edith had lots of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Norman Closson Sr., her sisters Eleanor Greenlaw, Vivian and Margaret Farley, and brothers Albert and Elwell Farley, daughter-in-law Beej Closson.
A private graveside service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite place or school towards student lunches.
Carolyn A. Hodgdon
Seal Cove
Carolyn A. Hodgdon, 81, passed peacefully at home on Nov 1, 2025, in the company of her beloved nephew and niece, Brandon & Laura Hodgdon, and canine companions Bessie and Teddy. Carolyn had a kind and gentle spirit, and a fine mind. She will be missed.
She was born on Aug. 3, 1944, to Ralph Sr. & Betty (White) Hodgdon. The family lived adjacent to Hodgdon Pond in Seal Cove, Maine. In her youth, she left Seal Cove and for over 30 years had a successful career with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire. She often expressed how much she had loved her work. Upon retirement she came full circle and moved back to Seal Cove to be closer to the land, people, and island she loved.
Carolyn was fond of history and genealogy, road trips, reading, socializing, and was an avid news buff. People, and their stories, fascinated her. The memories she had, and the stories she shared about family history in particular, were valuable to relatives and friends of all ages.
She was predeceased by her parents, Ralph Sr. and Betty Hodgdon, and by her siblings Ralph Jr., Gwen and Jamie. She is survived by Brandon and Laura Hodgdon, William and Brittany Shepherd and children Wes & Sophia, Ralph and Natalie Hodgdon and sons Tyler & Trent, Robert Aubrey, and Vanessa Reynolds, lifelong friends Brenda (Reed) Bartlett & Clarice (Walsh) McClure, and a multitude of relatives and friends too numerous to name but nonetheless dear to her.
Carolyn did not wish to have any kind of service; good memories will suffice. Donations in her name may be made to the Tremont Historical Society, 207-244-9753.
Bruce Eric Damon
Mount Desert
Bruce Eric Damon, 77, of Mount Desert passed away Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Bruce was born Oct. 9, 1948, in Bar Harbor, the son of Constance Marie Kenney and Robert Fillmore Damon. He spent his formative years with his family in St. George, Rockland and the greater Portland area.
Bruce graduated from Portland High School, Class of 1966; he then enlisted in the Navy in April of 1967. Bruce was very proud of his time in the service. He spent it aboard the USS America CVA-66 as part of the Catapult crew on the flight deck. He was honorably discharged in 1970 to aid in the care of his father, Bob.
Bruce began his fishing career at the early age of 14 with his father. After the Navy, Bruce returned to fishing and his love of the sea. His first boat, the RIPTIDE, was utilized for scalloping in the winter months and lobstering the rest of the year. He fished out of his home port Northeast Harbor and the Cranberry Isles. His second family was the community of Islesford, where he lived for many years. Bruce also spent time on the F/V Atlantic Harvester out of Rockland. He was part of the crew, and eventually he captained the vessel to the Grand Banks multiple times. His next boat, CRAZY WATER, was his pride and joy. Due to health reasons, Bruce stopped fishing in the fall of 2024, the hardest thing for him to give up.
He will forever remain a legend in the fishing community up and down the eastern seaboard for his love of fishing and the ocean.
Bruce’s greatest happinesses in life were his children, Emily N. Damon and Cedric Owen Damon & his wife Jennifer May Damon along with his beloved grandchildren Serena Young, Lexi Young, Lulu Damon Dong, Delilah Damon Dong, Jaxson Damon, “little” Cedric Damon, Emrys Miller and Rowan Miller.
Bruce loved life and always had a great attitude about living. He loved music, drumming and flying airplanes. He spent many years working out at Tracey’s Karate in Ellsworth and was proud to have earned his sixth-degree black belt. He ran a dojo for several years and is known to many as Sensei Bruce. He was most proud of his sobriety. Bruce was 39 years sober and thanked the Lord each day for his gift of putting down the bottle. He was a mentor for many people struggling with the disease and always made himself available to those in need of support. Bruce was an active member of the VFW Lurvey-Wright, Post 130 in Mount Desert. He loved his country and loved upholding the duties and ceremonies with the Legion.
Bruce is survived by his sister Laura Coss and her husband Mark Cross, brother Michael Damon and his wife Rhonda Reed Damon, many nieces, nephews and cousins, along with his dear Uncle Dennis Damon and Aunt Natalie Damon Pellerin. He was predeceased by his brother Herbert L. Damon and sister Carol Harkins Damon, whom he missed dearly.
A celebration of life will be held at The Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.
Gifts may be made in his memory to the Maine Lobstering Association at mainelobstermen.org or by check payable to MLA, 2 Storer St., Suite 203, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
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