Lynn Jay Madison

Lynn Jay Madison of Milton, Florida passed away at the age of 86 leaving his beloved wife, three children, two grandchildren, five great grandchildren and a strong network of friends.

He hailed from Spokane, Washington and the west stayed close to his heart as he moved east to attend the Naval Academy (1963) and marry Kathryn Falcone, a Jersey girl. He was notably wise and read voraciously throughout his life, from endless Jack London to the accounts of Arctic exploration he favored in later years. He was also quietly generous to his friends and had a soft spot for an animal in need of rescue. A brigade boxing champion and an expert rifle and pistol marksman, he learned to sail and developed a deep affinity for the open sea in the Navy. Jay went on to see the world, in Vietnam War service, and thirty years with Delta Airlines. He earned National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam service Medal, and multiple Air Medals in his military service. He was in a submarine off Cuba during the Missile Crisis and was known by his peers as the master of pivoting a submarine to dock. When he retired from Delta Airlines, this skill proved handy as the captain of his wooden sloop, with Kathy as his first mate. While his boat had an engine, Jay considered it a last resort and mastered sailing on and off the mooring as a matter of principle. He and Kathy lived in Florida but roamed the eastern seaboard from Buzzards Bay to the Bay of Fundy, giving generations of family and friends the captivating experience of coastal exploring under sail. They eventually settled upon the working harbor of Jonesport for a hub and a hilltop home on Great Wass Island, an aerie with an expansive view of down east Maine. For those who loved him, it feels right to think of him, face to the wind and bow to the open ocean, hands steady at the helm, and his freedom-loving heart soaring with each cresting wave.

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