Charles "Del" Babb

CAMDEN..Charles Adelbert "Del" Babb, 86, died peacefully and surrounded by family on April
23, 2023, at Windward Gardens in Camden, Maine. Del was a dedicated family man and could not have
been happier that all four of his daughters have homes in Camden. During monthly family dinners out,
Del would always be sure to say to the server, "Aren't I the luckiest man alive?"
A fourth generation Camdener, Del was born at the Camden Community Hospital on Mountain Street
on April 20, 1937, to Charles W. Babb, Jr. of Camden and Helen Bird Babb of Rockland. Together with his
younger sister, Janan, they spent summers on Megunticook Lake at the camp built by their grandfather
Charles W. Babb, Sr., and learned to ski at the Camden Snow Bowl during the winter.
Del attended Camden public schools until grade ten (Elm Street school through grade 5, Knowlton Street
School through grade 8, where Mary E. Taylor was his teacher, and Camden High School through grade
10). He finished his high school education, graduating from the Loomis School (now Loomis Chaffee
School) in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1956. At Loomis, Del played basketball and football, lettering in his
first year as tackle, and discovered pizza for the first time! Del returned to Maine and joined the class of
1960 at the University of Maine at Orono, where he played three years of football, was a member of
Lambda Chi Alpha, and majored in business and economics.
After Orono, Del moved back to Camden with his first wife, Roberta, to work at the Knox Woolen Mill.
He enlisted in the Maine Air National Guard, completed basic training in San Antonio, and served in the
reserves for 6 years at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor.
Del began his long career in the paper industry at the age of 16, working summers at the Knox Woolen
Mill. During his time at Knox, Del traveled the country as a factory and sales representative, visiting
customers from Florida to Texas, the West Coast, Midwest and New England. After almost three
decades with Knox, Del was hired as the New England sales representative for Appleton Mills
(headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin). He felt that the customers at the various mills he called on
were more friends than clients - he truly enjoyed what he did.
Del's love for the arts and painting started in grade school when he took lessons from Eliot Beverage and
Denny Winters. At Loomis, under the guidance of Sanford Lowe, Del continued to develop his interest in
drawing, sketching, and watercolors. His favorite classes at UMO were the studio art classes he took
from Vincent Hartgen. With family and work keeping him busy, Del put aside painting until his
retirement. He then enjoyed attending watercolor workshops in Maine and Canada taught by Alvaro
Castagnet and Bill Vrscak, among others, where he learned new techniques and made lasting
friendships. Del's artwork can be found around town, proudly hanging in the homes of his family and
friends and even local businesses. An extremely talented but modest artist, Del gladly gave away his
paintings in exchange for a donation to the Penobscot Bay YMCA.
Del's commitment to and love for his community was never ending. He served as President of the Board
of Directors of the Camden Area YMCA (a place he cherished and frequented until his health no longer
permitted); President of the Board of Directors of Camden Outing Club (during his tenure the club added
the chairlift, small T-bar and tennis courts at the Snow Bowl); Vice-Chairman of the SAD #28 School
Board; Director and founding member of Oyster River Tennis Club; member of various committees at
Pen Bay Medical Center; and member of the Town of Camden Budget Committee, as well as other
professional organizations. It thrilled Del to see his family enjoy and support these same organizations
that he believed are such strong testaments to the area's deep sense of community.
He loved sailing and exploring Penobscot Bay with family and friends and was actively involved in the
Maine sailboat racing circuit for many years. Since the 1980's, Del and his wife Isa have been co-owners
of the local sail loft, Bohndell Sails and Rigging, with the Chase Family, serving the sailing community
along the coast of Maine.
Though Del may have (somewhat proudly) proclaimed in his later years not to like many people, those
he knew and encountered would have surely disagreed. He never missed an opportunity to chat or tell a
joke, making those he met feel at ease and welcome.
Del was predeceased by his first wife, Roberta Anderson Babb; his parents, Charles W. Babb, Jr. and
Helen Bird Babb; and his sister, Janan Babb Vaughan.
He leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Isa Graber Babb; his daughters: Rebecca (Deerin Babb-Brott),
Jennifer (James M. B. Wickenden), Andrea (Peter Conover) and Johanna (Jonathan Lamm); and his
grandchildren: Alison, James Jr., Evan, Anya, Charles, Olive, Robert, and Charlotte.
He is sorely missed by those he left behind. Please join us for a celebration of Del's life at the Camden
Yacht Club on July 16, 2023, from 4 to 6 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Penobscot Bay YMCA in Rockport, Maine. Condolences
may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home
& Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.