Albert Leroy Buswell

SWAN'S ISLAND

Albert Leroy Buswell, 87, died at his home on Swan's Island on February 25, 2026. He was born on August 17, 1938, in Rockland, the son of loving parents Theodore and Alberta (Sprague) Buswell. Along with his four sisters, he was raised on Swan's Island where his childhood was filled with memorable stories he would often recount later in life.

A graduate of Pemetic High School, Albert earned both his B.A. and M.A. from University of Maine and continued on to earn a certificate of advanced study in secondary teaching.

Following service in the U.S. Army, and brief time as a manager at the W.T. Grant store in Ellsworth, Albert became a teacher for the Ellsworth Public Schools. He taught for nearly 37 years, most of that time spent in the Math department at EHS teaching algebra and geometry. As he personally found the subjects a bit dry, early on in his career Albert took the opportunity to weave stories from ancient history into his lectures, to offer students an entertaining and engaging perspective. With a plaster bust of an ancient mathematician in his classroom, and each class year treated to a dramatic recounting of Archimedes' last words ("Don't step on my circles!"), Albert was affectionately nicknamed "Euclid" by his students early on in his tenure.

Hanging on the back wall of his classroom, Albert displayed a nautical chart where he had marked "Heaven on Earth" to denote where he could be found each summer. Typically catching the last ferry of the day on the final school day of the year each June. Albert would return to Swan's Island where he could be among his family and friends in the place which he had called home for his entire life. Having seasonally lobstered since he was a young man, Albert would spend his summer fishing along the shore and around the islands near Swan's Island. He lobstered up until this past summer, when he began to feel the physical effects of aging start to win the battle against his youthful spirit.

Albert was the proud father of three daughters and two sons. Blessed with the arrival of 15 grandchildren spread across the past two decades, he looked forward each year to travelling to family gatherings and annually hosting everyone during July visits to his Stanley Point home. These visits were a highlight of his summer, as his grandchildren enjoyed many of the activities Swan's Island has to offer that were unchanged since his youth -- swimming and digging for things on the shore in front of his house, taking an afternoon dip in the Quarry Pond, a picnic and hike around Baker Island, fishing for mackerel in the harbor, and of course hauling a few traps to see what they might contain. He would often make a point to later remark on the great happiness he experienced simply seeing his children and the next generation of cousins spending time together.

Throughout his life, Albert enjoyed a special bond with his nephews Leonard and Roger ("The May Boys") and later, their children as well. No week would be complete without getting "all caught up" with stories and conversation in the living room at his parents' house, and seeing his extended family on the water, fishing the same waters and occasionally being on the giving or receiving end of a prank. Albert also had a special bond with nephew Michael Morrison, son of sister Etta. He greatly appreciated Michael's artistic talents, sense of humor, and practical skills helping to keep things running, and being the builder of his favorite "wood, wire, and mesh" traps.

Albert is survived by his five children; Theresa Buswell, Anna Marchant, Amy Hook, Theodore Buswell, and Philip Buswell, three sons-in-law (Jonathan Friedman, Robert Marchant, and Marshall Hook), two daughters-in-law (Malinda Buswell and Vanya Buswell), and fifteen grandchildren: Rachel Friedman; William, Caitlin, James, and Charles Marchant; Margaret, Henry, Oliver, and Theodore Hook; Madeline, Audrey, Daniel, and Olivia Buswell; and Alexander and Victoria Buswell. He is also survived by his sister Leona Buswell and many special nephews and nieces.

There will be a gathering from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM on Sat. March 7, 2026 at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mt. Desert, with a spring funeral to be planned on Swan's Island. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the Swans Island Ambulance Service or the EHS General Scholarship Fund maintained by Camden National Bank.

Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com