Camp Ellis community pays tribute to former harbor master

SACO — A man known for his love of Camp Ellis and his innate knowledge of Saco Bay has been given a place of honor at the Camp Ellis Pier.

Donald Roger Abbott, known to his friends as Roger, died in March 2019 at the age of 79.

Abbott, who was the local harbor master for 34 years and a long-time commercial fisherman, was honored on Sunday with a memorial at the pier, a place that was near and dear to him. The tribute contains a granite plaque secured to an old wood trawl door from a fishing dragger, believed to be at least 45 years old.

Engraved on the plaque are the words “We honor him for his 34 years as Saco Harbor Master and for teaching many of us to embrace the calling of the sea.”

One of those people he taught was Craig Pendleton, who oversaw Sunday’s ceremony, which was attended by friends and family members.

Pendleton and Abbott were cousins, but Pendleton always knew Abbott as “Uncle Roger,” because of the age difference between them.

“He was one of the first guys I ever went lobstering with,” said Pendleton, who had a long career as a commercial fisherman. Pendleton, who grew up next to Abbott in Camp Ellis, recalled watching Abbott repair lobster traps in his yard.

He also had fond memories of  himself and Abbott's son Jeff tagging along when Abbott plowed snow in the winter, and Abbott telling them to put their feet on the dashboard so they wouldn’t go through the windshield when he drove into a snowbank.

Pendleton said when Abbott was harbor master, he knew every fisherman and every vessel that came in and out of the Camp Ellis Pier.

“He didn’t have to write anything down. He had all the moorings in his head,” said Pendleton.

Irene, Abbott’s wife, described her husband as a fun-loving guy.

“Being a commercial fisherman was in his blood,” she said.

She said she believes her husband died of a broken heart, as he never got over the death of their only son, Jeff, who was struck and killed by a truck in 2017 while working for the Maine Turnpike Authority.

Irene said it was fitting to have a memorial for Roger at the pier, which she described as “his second home.”

“This is an honor for him. I’m sure he is smiling down at us,” she said.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.