Richard E. Thurlow

NEWBURYPORT — Captain Richard E. Thurlow, 79, formerly of Newburyport, and Falmouth, Maine, passed away Sunday, Feb 10, 2008 at his home in Citrus Springs, Fla.

Dick was an 11th generation Newburyporter born on Aug. 31, 1928.

He will be remembered as an avid hunter and fisherman in the Essex County area. He skippered the Roger B and later the Early Times tuna boats out of the Tournament Warf. Participating in the Tournament Warf Tuna Club, he won several tournaments including one for the largest hand lined tuna (658 lbs.) of which he was particularly proud. Dick was a member of the St. John's Lodge MAF (Newburyport) since 1959.

For 20 years Dick was a captain for the Casco Bay Lines Ferry Co. in Portland, Maine. He also skippered for The Finest Kind Lobster Cruise Tour in Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Doris Thurlow, former owners of the Thurlow's Family Shoe Store (Newburyport) and by his second wife of 20 years, Anne Komlosky Thurlow of Portland, Maine. He is survived by his wife, Helen Thurlow of Citrus Springs, Fla.; and his children, Captain Richard Thurlow Jr. his wife Alicia of Lehigh Acres, Fla., Lee Anne Grover her husband Don Jr. of Amesbury, Ms Dale Thurlow of Lehigh Acres, Fla., Karen Kimball her husband Mike of Yarmouth, Maine, and Ralph Thurlow DVM his partner David Spiher of Oakland, Calif., all former residents of Newburyport. He is fondly remembered by Jay, Michael, Kurt, and Eric Carey, the sons of his wife Helen, and is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

ARRANGEMENTS: A celebration of Dick's life and dispersal of ashes will be held in Portland, Maine on a Casco Bay Lines Ferry June 7, 2008. Memorial gifts may be made in Dick's name to the Tuttle Road United Methodist Church, 52 Tuttle Road, Cumberland Center, ME 04021.