Gertrude Louise “Gert” Gascon (Dunbar); Richard Stephen “Rich” Gurin; Philip “Pip” Wick III; Robert Frank Jardine Jr.; Ruth W. Nevells.
Mar 22, 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.
This week, by request, we’ve started sharing obituaries from throughout Hancock County. This is a bit of a bigger lift for us, but we’ll try to keep doing it if it’s something that you all want. We all are so connected here.
Gertrude Louise “Gert” Gascon (Dunbar)
Trenton
Gertrude Louise Dunbar Gascon, 95, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of Trenton, Maine passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026. She was born February 23, 1931, in Manset, Maine, and spent her life deeply connected to the Mount Desert Island community she loved so dearly.
Gertrude attended elementary school in Manset and Southwest Harbor and graduated from Pemetic High School. Gert grew up in Manset next to the church, where she often shared a fond childhood memory. The church doors were never locked, and she and her friends would go inside during the week. There she would play the organ while they sang and laughed together.
She was a proud military housewife and later worked at the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound. While she worked throughout her life, her greatest devotion was always to her family and her home. Gertrude and her family lived in many places around the world while her husband, George, served in the United States Navy. In 1966 they returned home to Manset, where Gert and George finished raising their family surrounded by the community they loved. Gert shared a wonderful life with George. He cared for her deeply, always making sure she was comfortable and providing everything she needed or wanted. Later in life, after Gert lost her eyesight, she and George moved to a ranch-style home in Trenton.
Known to many simply as “Gert,” she was cherished for her kindness, generosity, and the warm welcome she extended to anyone who came through her door. Her home was always meticulous yet comfortable, and visitors were always greeted with coffee, conversation, and something sweet to eat.
One of Gert’s greatest joys in life was the birth of her grandson, Warren. She adored him and they treasured the time they spent together. When Warren began school, she retired from the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound so she could be there for him, creating a caring, loving, and fun place for his family and friends to gather. Many of Warren’s cousins and good friends held a special place in Gert’s heart, as did the children who found their way to her welcoming home. Summer lunches shared on the porch were special moments both she and Warren cherished deeply. Above all their loving relationship was one of the greatest blessings of her life.
The birth of her adored great-granddaughter, Allie Marie, brought even more joy to Gert’s life. Whenever the opportunity arose, she and Allie would sing and dance together, filling the house with laughter. Gram’s house quickly became a favorite place to perform, and Gert always gave her full and loving attention.
After Warren started school, Gert’s Manset home became legendary for Halloween. Each year she transformed the house into a festive wonderland filled with decorations everywhere you looked, even orange and black balloons filling the bathtub. The dining room and kitchen tables overflowed with hundreds of homemade whoopie pies, cookies, cheesecake, brownies, and unimaginable amounts of candy.
Christmas was another season that showcased Gert’s generous heart. At Christmas time, her home was absolutely beautiful, decorated inside and out with great care and love. She truly loved the holiday and especially loved gathering her family together at her home to celebrate. Gert also baked oversized cookies for her many nieces and nephews, carefully wrapping them in cellophane with large bows before delivering them personally to their homes. Decorating and preparing for the holiday brought her great joy, and her home reflected the warmth and love she felt for family and friends.
In November 2025, Gert moved to Birch Bay Retirement Village in Bar Harbor, Maine. She loved the community and her beautiful apartment overlooking the ocean. There she was taken great care of by a kind and compassionate staff who brought her wonderful comfort and joy.
Gertrude was deeply grateful for the loving care she received at home in Trenton from her special caregivers Emma Blanchard, Christie Clark, and Lisa Hammond, whose kindness and compassion meant so much to her and her family. Her Wednesday outings with Helene Baker also brought great joy to Gert’s life. Not knowing where their adventures would take them made those days especially fun for her.
The loss of Gert’s son, Bob, was a heartbreaking sorrow in her life. Through that difficult time, she showed great strength and perseverance. The love and special bond they shared remained forever in her heart.
Above all else, Gert’s family was her greatest passion. She is lovingly survived by her devoted daughter, Josette Pettegrow of Trenton, and her husband Anthony; her cherished grandson, Warren Pettegrow and his wife Monica; her much-loved great-granddaughter, Allie Marie; her brother, Guy Dunbar and his wife Paula; many loved nieces and nephews.
Josette was a devoted daughter whose love, care, and constant support meant so much to Gert throughout her life. Monica, her granddaughter-in-law, was a cherished addition to Gert’s life. Her warmth and generosity meant a great deal to Gert. Gert’s son-in-law, Anthony, was deeply devoted to her happiness and well-being, and she adored him. Gertrude will be remembered for her generous spirit and the joyful traditions she created that brought family and friends together. She was predeceased by her loving husband, George Gascon; her cherished son, Robert “Bob” Gascon; her parents, John and Dorothy Dunbar; and her siblings Charlotte Lawson, Edwin Dunbar, Joyce Kenny, Ralph Dunbar, Pauline Moody, and John Dunbar.
For Gert, family was everything, and the warmth of her home will live on in the memories of all who were fortunate enough to gather there. Her most precious gift to us was her time and attention that will be missed immensely.
Services will be announced at a later date.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
Richard Stephen “Rich” Gurin
Blue Hill
Richard Stephen Gurin, known as “Rich” to his friends, passed away peacefully at the Parker Ridge Retirement Community on March 8, 2026, after bravely living with Parkinson’s Disease for many years. He was 85 years old.
Son to Samuel and Ceilia Gurin, Rich was born on August 8, 1940 in Philadelphia. He grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Swarthmore, where he built lifelong friendships at Swarthmore High School before attending Hamilton College in upstate New York.
Rich spent his summers in Downeast Maine at his family’s seasonal home in Sorrento, across the waters of Frenchman Bay from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. While part of a group of teenage boys known as the “thundering herd,” Rich embraced the value of being part of a community, which informed his service to others throughout his life.
His competitive spirit and passion for sailing earned him a reputation along the coast as a winning skipper, with boxes of racing pennants attesting to his prowess at the helm of Wee Scots and One Design S-boats. You can still spot one of these century-old wooden sloops on a breezy summer day on Frenchman Bay. Once in college, he shared his love of sailing as an instructor at the Bar Harbor Yacht Club, where he met his future wife, Susan Swartz, of Philadelphia and Somesville.
After graduating from Hamilton College in 1962, Rich joined Procter & Gamble in their Sales Division. His rising career took Rich, Susie and their growing family from New York and New Jersey to Cincinnati, Chicago, and Kentucky, as his executive responsibilities expanded to leadership of brands like Pringles and Orange Crush. After 20 years with P&G, Rich took the helm of the Crayola Crayon brand as CEO of Binney & Smith. During his sixteen years there, he expanded the company into a global leader in fine art and coloring products, helped revitalize downtown Easton, PA, and furnished his grandchildren with a never-ending supply of crayons and markers.
A selfless leader with a strong motivation to help others achieve success, Rich found a passion for mentoring and giving back. He gladly served on many boards, including Lafayette College, Hamilton College, Jackson Lab, Blue Hill Hospital, and Parker Ridge Retirement Community, to name just a few. He was also honored to serve on President Clinton’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
And yet all these experiences were always going to lead Rich and Susie back to Maine’s ruggedly beautiful coast, where they retired to Parker Point on Blue Hill Bay. Rich loved being on the water, playing golf, and providing mentorship and service to myriad local organizations. Winter escapes included many sailing cruises and vacations in Tortola and Florida, always with friends and family along for the fun.
Rich is survived by his wife and partner of sixty-five years, Susan Gurin, their children Anne Gurin Tall, Steve Gurin, and Matt Gurin; all continue the family’s love for Sorrento and Downeast Maine, fostering that tradition among Rich and Susie’s nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service is planned for Rich this summer in Sorrento. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
Philip “Pip” Wick III
Brooklin
Pip’s legal name was Philip Wick III, but he never used it because it sounded so pretentious, which was the exact opposite of who he was. Born in Boston in 1942, Pip was the oldest of three boys and grew up in Connecticut. The family spent winters in the Bahamas because his father (Philip Wick Jr.) was injured during the war and Northeast winters were hard on him. Pip would row his younger brothers to school across the bay at Man-of-War Cay because this was, after all, a boating family. They used the original Lucayo (a motorsailer) to make the journey every year.
Pip met Judy, the love of his life, when he was 17. He was 20 when they married and 21 when eldest daughter Shari came into their lives. Jenny was born two years later and son Chip five years after that. The family lived in Rowayton, Connecticut, on the Five Mile River while Pip worked as a stockbroker in NYC. Their little family was very close and enjoyed each other’s company on Flame, a traditional wooden boat, on their annual trips, which involved both touring and racing.
Pip and Judy were living on the Wekiva River in Florida (after a brief stint in North Carolina) when they were finally in a position to build their dream boat. Sailors will understand: our next boat will have TWO heads, a washing machine, larger tanks, etc. The modern Lucayo, a Roger Marshall- designed 48-foot custom sloop, was built at Brooklin Boat Yard and launched in 1993. Pip had one condition: he had to be allowed to work on the construction (He was quite a good carpenter and craftsman.). BBY had one condition: they were allowed to fire him if things didn’t work out. Suffice it to say that everything went quite well, so much so, that after living in Brooklin for nine months during construction, then launching her, Pip and Judy missed their Brooklin friends so much that they moved out of Florida and “upta” Maine permanently.
At one point in his early life Pip crewed for a lot of racing teams and was almost selected as crew for Courageous for the 1974 America’s Cup, but they took brother Chris Wick instead, as there was only one spot available. While living in Florida, Pip also did a lot of diving and worked on developing winged sails, as this was an upcoming technology soon to be widely deployed in the sailing world.
Pip and Judy enjoyed Lucayo immensely and shared their sailing experiences with many friends and family. Trips to the Caribbean, Venezuela, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Azores and many CCA events provided much satisfaction and happiness.
Pip was predeceased by parents Philip and Marguerite (“Bunny”), son Philip “Chip” Charles (2022), grandson Nathaniel (2023) and wife Judith (2024). He is survived by daughters Shari (Frank), Jenny (Jim) and grandchildren Victoria (“Misha”), Seeta, Hayden, Megan, Allison and Audrey (“Rey”), two brothers Christopher and Michael. There will be no visitation per his wishes, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Anyone wishing to do so can make a donation in his memory to one of the fine organizations researching Alzheimer’s disease.
Robert Frank Jardine Jr.
Bucksport
“I’ve finished life’s chores assigned to me, So put me on a boat headed out to sea. Please send along my fishing pole for I’ve been invited to the fishin’ hole. Where every day is a day to fish, To fill your heart with every wish. Don’t worry, or feel sad for me, I’m fishin’ with the Master of the sea.”
Robert Frank Jardine Jr.,78, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 10, 2026. He was born in Greenville, the son of Robert Sr. and Edith Jardine.
Of all his accomplishments, Bob possessed the untouchable qualities of the human spirit that he modeled to his family and friends on a daily basis. He persevered no matter what obstacles life gave him, lived life to the fullest, and always had a positive and optimistic outlook. He had a tremendous work ethic and a great sense of responsibility. Bob would generously lend his time and talents to anyone in need as family and community were of the utmost importance to him. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a strong and courageous man who lived his life with purpose, cherishing every moment and being thankful for even the simplest things in life. He led by example his children and grandchildren, and he leaves them knowing that they were valued and loved.
Bobby was an avid fisherman, traveler and outdoorsman. He spent most of his youth at “Camp” on South Twin. He had the fondest memories with his sister Claire and brother Wayne and later, gathering there with their young families playing cards, waterskiing, and boating. He fly-fished all over the world with his son Robbie, casting his line, seeking out the most elusive of fish. A blend of skill and luck, he could catch a 20-pound trout out of a mud puddle. He enjoyed adventures with his daughter Heather, golfing in Scotland and going on numerous vacations and cruises. He loved bee keeping, gardening and time spent sharing family recipes over the grill, stove or the oven with his daughter, Stacy. A lifelong UMaine hockey fan, he’d always tune in if he couldn’t make the game. Bob ventured to the Frozen Four numerous times over the last few decades. He cherished trips to the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, Hawaii, and other destinations with his bride, Vicki. Dozens of hours would pass in his woodworking shop as Bob crafted heirloom rolling pins, cutting boards or anything someone wanted or needed. Bob would get busy making it for or with them. “Bob,” “Dad,” “Papa” passed along his knowledge of so many skills to those who knew and loved him. From Papa, Cam learned the importance of hard work and never giving up on a goal. He followed Papa’s guidance to become an Eagle Scout. Their annual fishing trips to Reno will be held dear. For Lexy, Papa was patient, kind and a source of unwavering support. He was her biggest cheerleader, and their luncheon “dates” painting at the Creative Arts Center will be sorely missed. Papa celebrated the milestones of Liam and Cece, and for Miles, he fostered the love of the outdoors. Their time on the water fishing and traveling back woods roads hunting for partridge will be treasured.
Bob grew up in Millinocket. He was a Boy Scout and earned his Eagle Scout just before he reached 14 years of age. He attended Stearns High School, where he met his future wife, Vicki, graduating in 1965. He attended Paul Smith’s College in New York and earned his degree in Forestry. He competed on the Woodsmen Team not only as a student but also as an alumnus, demonstrating lumberjack sports and traditional forestry skills. He was drafted into the United States Marine Corps in 1969. He served honorably as a corporal in the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He received the Meritorious Mast for outstanding service. Bob had a long professional career as a construction Superintendent for H.E. Sargent, J.W. Goodwins, and D. Gott and Sons Construction Companies as well as the Town of Bucksport’s Public Works Director over the span of 53 years, where he made many special lifelong friends.
Robert was predeceased by his loving wife of 44 years, Vicki L. Jardine, and is survived by his adoring children: daughter, Stacy LaBree and husband, Matthew, of Hampden; daughter, Heather Davis and husband, Arthur of Rochester, NH; son, Robbie Jardine and wife, Carrie, of Dedham; beloved grandchildren, Cameron and Alexis LaBree; Liam, Sydney, and Miles Jardine. He will be greatly missed by cousins, nieces and nephews especially the “Daigle Boys,” Mike, Matt, and Jason, sister-in-law, Theresa Germain, good friend, Kim Leonard, and his buddy, Tim Nadeau.
Relatives and friends are invited to call 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2026, at the Brewer Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 55 South Main St., Brewer, where a service will be held noon Saturday, April 4, 2026. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments in the Family Reception Rooms of Brookings-Smith, following the service.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
Ruth W. Nevells
Blue Hill
Niskayuna, New York – Ruth W. Nevells, born to Maxwell and Margaret (Lamoreau) Nevells on August 18, 1953, and originally from Blue Hill, was called to eternal rest, free from pain and suffering, at age 72, on March 14, 2026, at home surrounded by family.
She was fiercely independent and steadfast in her faith, especially in her later years. She loved most spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as riding her motorcycle with the GOD Chapter in and around Maine.
Ruth is survived by her son, Darrel Nevells and wife, Amy of Niskayuna, NY, and their sons, Jacob and Alexandre; daughter, Tiana Hadziavdic and husband, Amir, of Jacksonville, FL, and their children, Riley, Zanin and Ajla; daughter, Wanda Stanley of Gouldsboro and her children, Anthony and Victoria; and six great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Darrel, Khaleesi, Michael, Natalya and Dimitri. She was predeceased by her parents, one brother, Roger Nevells; and one sister, Frances “Liz” Nevells.
All who knew Ruth are invited to a funeral service at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Christian Ridge Church of God, Ellsworth, with a reception immediately following in Lamoine. Interment will be held in the spring at Seaside Cemetery, Blue Hill. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Ellsworth, where online condolences may be shared: bragdonkelley.com.
Discover more from Bar Harbor Story
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.