Sheldon F. Goldthwait Jr. Lynn Ann Parsons. Kenneth Joseph Salvatore. Lawrence Charles Johnston. Edward Blanchard Jackson.
Feb 08, 2026
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. We will also share obituaries that have been in other places, too. Just let us know.
Sheldon F. Goldthwait Jr.
Bar Harbor
Sheldon F. Goldthwait Jr. died on Jan. 31, 2026, at the age of 87. The Goldthwait family moved to Bar Harbor in 1944. He was away from MDI when he had to be, through Bowdoin College and his early work life, but came back as soon as he could and before long followed in his father’s footsteps at Bar Harbor Banking and Trust, working his way from “mail boy” to teller to president of the bank.
He often described working for the early road crews and roofers of Bar Harbor, as a delivery boy at Daney’s Market and a host at the Mary Jane, and was proud of having been Boy Scout Den Chief for a local surgeon.
When he retired from banking, he took on the job of which he was most proud, sternman on a lobster boat. He went for a decade on F/V Cod Fish out of Bar Harbor and another decade on F/V Rich Returns out of Bass Harbor. He also joined the crew of the Ocean Star out of Murphy’s Pond, Port Hood, Cape Breton, with Robert and Hugh Watts, with whom he had family connections.
Speaking of family connections, if one were to be incautious enough to fall into the trap of Sheldon’s innocent question — “Where are you from?” — you would then be subjected to a barrage of detailed questions regarding your family, your heirs and assigns, some of them most unwelcome, until Sheldon had matched you up with relatives you never knew you had or did not care to acknowledge.
As for his own family, he married Jill in 1980 and, after a six-year trial period, during a family emergency, decided she should have a wedding ring. He chose a Celtic knot pattern that confounded a local jeweler for months. Jennifer, Daniel and Summer were the lights of his life, with the welcome addition of spouses Reg, Carol and Alex. Then came the next generation, who got all the glory, grandchildren Sebastian, Kate, Santiago, Eliza, Will and Ben. He is survived by his little brother John and John’s wife Nancy.
Sheldon supported or participated in an abundance of local activities, none more important to him than the Bar Harbor Fire Department. A bewildered woman found this out on an early date, when she was left sitting in front of two untouched entrees when the whistle blew and Sheldon vanished. The restaurant staff simply smiled and said, “Go ahead and eat. He’ll be in some time to pay.”
The rich resources of our community were behind our family at every step of his final journey. From the crew at the BHFD who went to bring him home to MDI after his hospitalization in Bangor, to the spectacular care he received during his two-week stay at Birch Bay, to the year-round neighbors on Albert Meadow who were always here for us, to the community at large who came bearing soup, home-baked bread, casseroles and cookies, we thank you.
Sheldon touched an astonishing variety of people. Celtic musicians, farmers, genealogists, boatbuilders, librarians, business owners, commercial fishermen, writers, sailors, politicians, gardeners, health care workers — so many people of so many backgrounds who seemed to find their way to the core of this reserved and quiet man, understand his kindness, and love him for it. Our deepest thanks to you all, our anchor to windward.
A gathering of friends and family will take place at a later date. Gifts in Sheldon’s memory may be made to the Bar Harbor Firefighters’ Association (c/o Matt Horton, 37 Firefly Lane, Bar Harbor, ME 04609), the Jesup Memorial Library (34 Mt. Desert Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609) or the Maine Seacoast Mission (P.O. Box 600, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662). To donate online: jesuplibrary.org/donate or seacoastmission.org/donate.
Lynn Ann Parsons
Southwest Harbor
Lynn Ann Parsons, age 71, left us unexpectedly on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. She was born to Rosalie and Joseph Lynch Sr. of Dunstable, Mass., on Dec. 3, 1954.
Lynn was happily married to her high school sweetheart, Jeffrey Parsons, for 53 years. They were inseparable. Lynn was known for her quiet nature, love of dogs, cats, and animals of all kinds. She loved watching the Patriots for many years.
Lynn worked as a waitress at Spinnakers, then went on to co-own a gift store, Calico Creations, in Southwest Harbor with her sister-in-law, Jennifer Pelletier, for 10 years. Lynn went on to be the manager at the Harbor View Motel in Southwest Harbor for over 20 years.
Lynn is survived by her son, Christopher Parsons, wife Danielle; granddaughter Ava Parsons, whom she loved dearly, of Greenville, R.I.; sister, Patricia Fox and Charles Rasmussen of Bass Harbor, Maine; sister, Karen McDonough and husband, T.J. of Hudson, N.H.; brother-in-law, Allen Parsons Jr. and wife, Kathy of Franklin, Maine; sister-in-law, Jennifer Pelletier and husband, Bill of Tremont, Maine.
She was preceded in death by her son, Shaun Parsons, mother, Rosalie, father, Joseph Lynch Sr.; brother, Joseph Lynch Jr. and wife, Sandy; and mother- and father-in-law, Elizabeth and Allen Parsons Sr.
Lynn will be dearly missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life will be held in her honor at a later date. Those who wish to remember Lynn in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the SPCA of Hancock County, 141 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton, ME 04605.
“I thought I had more time … I would have hugged you a little tighter and told you I loved you a million more times.”
Condolences to the family may be expressed at acadiacremation.com.
Kenneth Joseph Salvatore
Southwest Harbor
Kenneth Joseph Salvatore, 74, of Southwest Harbor, Maine, passed away at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston on Jan. 27, 2026, after an inspiring fight against cancer. Kenneth, or “Sal” as he was called by all who knew him, was born on June 10, 1951, in Port Chester, N.Y.
Sal grew up in Port Chester with his sister Tina. He attended King Street Elementary and then Port Chester High School, where he was a three-sport star. He excelled at football the most. After one of his best games as a senior, he was named the Pepsi “Monster of the Game” for his ferocious play. His senior class also voted him “The Most Sincere.”
Sal’s talent for football earned him a scholarship at the University of Rhode Island. Simultaneously, as only fate could orchestrate, a young lady from Orono was also enrolling in nursing school at URI. Inevitably, the paths of Sal and Sid intersected, and a magical life’s journey began. Sid and Sal married on Sept. 1, 1973, and moved to Mount Desert Island, where Sid had worked summer jobs for a few years. Sid was employed as a nurse at MDI Hospital. Sal started work as a sardine packer at Stinson Canning in Southwest Harbor. He also worked as an orderly at the hospital and eventually was hired as a research assistant at Jackson Lab. Sid and Sal worked hard and they saved enough to build a house on Long Pond Road in Southwest Harbor.
Not long after that, Sal’s two children, Eben and Anna, came along. Sal was an amazing father to his children and would do anything for them. He helped coach both Eben and Anna through the Harbor House years and never missed an event. Anna was an exceptional soccer goalie at Mount Desert Island High School and continued to play in college. Sal was so proud of her. He traveled all throughout New England to watch her play (and to feed her team his famous meatballs whenever he could).
After several years at Jax, Sal decided to become a licensed insurance agent and ended up as one of the owners of LSR Insurance in Southwest Harbor. When it came time to retire, the hardest part for Sal was leaving the team he spent so many years working with. They were like family to him and stayed in his heart forever.
Sal was a fixture in the Southwest Harbor community for so many years. His genuine kindness touched everyone he met. He had a passion for gardening, playing the ukulele and golfing at the Causeway Club. A perfect Monday evening for him was a twilight match at the Causeway Club followed by a few hands of poker in the Red Barn with all his Causeway buddies.
When his grandchildren came into his life, the joy they each brought to him was limitless. Anna’s son Tyler was first in 2007, followed by her daughter Penelope in 2013 and Eben’s son Brycen in 2014. Tyler is the reason that Sal became “Ba” to his family, and Ba would always drop what he was doing when Tyler wanted to work on his pitching or just play catch. Ba loved watching all the kids play sports, and his passion was often on full display at any of Penelope’s basketball games. As Brycen was learning how to play football, Ba was so helpful in building his confidence. Brycen says Ba was also the “best grilled cheese maker ever.”
A special thank you goes out to the “farm family” who took Sal in for several years after he retired. Sal was also the first official “Gemster” and truly enjoyed his time on West Street welcoming cruise ship guests with the crew from Acadia GEM.
Kenneth is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Sid; son Eben and his wife Denise; daughter Anna and her husband Scott; grandchildren Tyler, Penelope and Brycen; his uncle Rich and aunt Jerry, sister Tina, and aunt Judy; Sid’s siblings Kathy, Patty and Bill; nieces and nephews, Barbara, James, Jennie, Ryan, Chris, Reagan, Jamie, Beth, Lauren, Craig and Katie; and first cousins in Iowa: Steve, Karen, Stanley, and Tom; and first cousin in Port Chester: Stephanie.
Kenneth was predeceased by his father, Ernest, mother Barbara, cousin Jim and very special brother-in-law Jim, and also by his two very beloved dogs, Niomi and Sarah.
Our dad put up a courageous fight against his cancer. Our family would like to thank all of the medical professionals at the Oncology Department at Mount Desert Island Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Dana Farber and Brigham & Women’s that gave our dad such compassionate and respectful care.
The list of Sal’s lifelong friends is endless, and the outpouring of condolences is truly amazing. There will be a celebration of life in the coming warmer months. We would like to have time to collect and share as many remembrances as we can, including a detailed explanation from Dad’s Phi Mu Delta brothers of the “Animal House” and “Mattress Party” events.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to Acadian Youth Sports, c/o Tony McKim, P.O. Box 656, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, or to Harbor House, c/o Ingred Kachmar, P.O. Box 836, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Sal enjoyed countless hours of his kids and grandkids participating in the programs that are provided by AYS and Harbor House, and would be honored to help other kids from the community have the same opportunity.
Lawrence Charles Johnston
Bar Harbor
Lawrence Charles Johnston, age 95, of Bar Harbor, Maine, passed away peacefully on Nov. 17, 2025, at Horizons Healthcare in Brunswick, Maine.
Weighing in at 12¾ pounds (though he always rounded up to 13), Lawrence Charles Johnston was born in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Aug. 4, 1930. He was delivered at home, as births at Bar Harbor Hospital were reserved for the hospital founders during the summer months. (His mother, Clara, was a strong woman.)
Larry always considered himself a true “Bar Harbor boy,” growing up alongside his sister, Elenor Margaret. His childhood was spent hiking the mountains of Acadia and exploring the woods with family in Amherst. Summers meant swimming and fishing off the pier in Bar Harbor or boating, fishing, and hunting at the family’s camp on Beech Hill Pond near Otis. His childhood boat — a canvas-covered Old Town — was his constant companion.
Larry graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1948 and pursued his love of the sea at Maine Maritime Academy, earning his Merchant Marine credentials in 1951. He later completed his B.S. degree at Bowdoin College in 1957. Larry proudly served as a Merchant Marine and later as a Navy Lieutenant during the Korean War, sharing tales of Pacific crossings and faraway ports. Notably, he played the sousaphone (see John Philip Sousa) in the Navy marching band, a skill he had honed since high school.
The Johnston children grew up doing their chores to the sound of marching band music — Sousa, of course, being a favorite. Larry’s swimming skills were somewhat legendary: he once swam under the hull of a massive tanker ship in one breath while in the Navy. He also competed on Bowdoin’s diving team and could dive off the dock at Beech Hill Pond leaving barely a ripple.
The love of Larry’s life was Carolyn Ann MacQuinn, a fellow Bar Harbor native who was whip-smart, naturally funny, and a great beauty (voted May Queen as a freshman at Bar Harbor High School!). Larry had known Carolyn since childhood — they were thrown together often while their parents played bridge. They married in 1957 after Carolyn’s graduation from Westbrook College. Together they quickly built a family, having four children in five and a half years, and went on to share 59 years of marriage. Their journey led them from Maine to Vermont, Connecticut, and eventually back home to the coast, living in Trenton and then Ellsworth.
Larry devoted much of his career to New York Life Insurance, managing offices across New England and New York. He later served as Vice President of Financial Services for Fleet Bank, and then worked as a financial advisor for Mass Mutual. In his spare time, he was owner of the Oak Point Lobster Pound and Western Bay Charters in Trenton, Maine.
His community involvement reflected his love of people. He was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity, a longtime Rotarian, and a founding member and President of the Ellsworth Chapter. He was a longtime board member at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor. He served on the board of Friends in Action and was active in the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, where he joined the ministry team and later served as a board member. He cherished his “Thursday Afternoon Men’s Group,” which met faithfully over cookies and soft drinks for more than 30 years.
Larry’s love for the family camp on Beech Hill Pond was unmistakable. Visitors would invariably notice the 1932 colorized photo of a blond, curly-headed baby in a wool bathing suit splashing in the shallows — blown up and framed, a symbol of its significance. Pinned inside a cupboard door were other treasures: a Bar Harbor Times article showing young Larry proudly holding a record-setting togue caught in the pond around age eight, and a photo of his mother, Clara, lounging gracefully on a granite rock along the lake’s edge.
Larry loved sailing, and for years his yard was filled with two sailboats resting in cradles, they were his babies, after all! Living at Oak Point in Trenton, the boats could be seen moored out front while the restaurant he and Carolyn operated all summer long. The waterfront featured a floating lobster pound full of lobsters he’d picked up at the docks in Corea, Maine, and Carolyn’s gift shop in the “wet smack” building next door. A business suit — worn daily for decades — was quickly shed each evening when he returned to his beloved waterfront.
Storytelling was among Larry’s great joys. His tales — sometimes embellished — were part of his charm. Above all, he loved his family, his camp, his church, and the Maine woods.
Whether through genetics, grit, or both, Larry defied all expectations in his final years, maintaining his cheerful spirit despite the challenges of age. He received wonderful care from the team at Horizons Health Care in Brunswick, with tremendous support from his daughter, Lynn Jacobs, and her partner, Ben Andrews, who brought comfort and kept the bird feeders full.
Larry is survived by his children, Ann Elizabeth Johnston, Alexander Charles Johnston, Lynn Johnston Jacobs, and Eric Arthur Johnston, and their spouses; grandchildren, Noah Singh, Simran Johnston, Chad Jacobs, Luke Jacobs, and Molly Jacobs; and three great-granddaughters, Louisa, Yasmin, and Jane, and his MacQuinn nieces and Goduti nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Carolyn, his parents, Lawrence and Clara, and his sister, Elenor.
Memorial service to be held at Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, on June 6, 2026. He will be interred at Ledgelawn Cemetery.
Edward Blanchard Jackson
Bar Harbor
Edward Blanchard Jackson, 82, of Bar Harbor, Maine, died February 5, 2026 at the Maine Veteran’s Home in Bangor, surrounded by family. He was born on May 12, 1943, in Ellsworth, Maine, to Olive (Bunker) Jackson and William E. Jackson, Jr. He graduated from Bar Harbor High School and SMVTI before joining the Army, serving in Germany. After his military service, he returned to Bar Harbor, where he married Patricia Ann Raynes. Together they built a life and home rooted in the community he loved.
He began his career learning the land surveying business with his father-in-law, Robert Raynes.
During his tenure with Bob, he also became a registered land surveyor, and when Bob retired, Ed purchased the business and continued serving the surrounding towns until his retirement in 2016.
In the evenings, he designed many local homes and businesses and felt fortunate to have found career paths that reflected his dedication to precision and integrity. In his free time, he was rarely still — he loved gardening, building furniture and decor, and always had a home-improvement project underway. Creating and improving things was not just a hobby for him; it was part of who he was.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia (Raynes) Jackson; his father, William E. Jackson; his mother, Olive (Bunker) Jackson Bunker; his stepfather, Wilfred Bunker; and his sister, Nancy (Jackson) Parsons.
He is survived by his daughter, Jenifer (Jackson) Trevett and her husband, Denny, grand-child, Kyle Trevett, and great-grandson, Anthony Lyttleton, of South Burlington, VT, and granddaughter, Morgan, of Denver, CO, his mother-in-law, Eleanor Raynes, sister-and brother-in-law, Cathy and Brent Walton of Bar Harbor, as well as several nieces and nephews.
A private family gathering and burial will be held at a future date. If desired, memorials may be made to Friends of Acadia.
Condolences may be expressed here at Jordan Fernald.
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