Yarmouth – Joel R. York passed away January 22, 2019 of heart and lung complications. He was 70 years old born and raised in Blue Hill ME. Tragedy struck him early in life when his mother was killed in an automobile accident when he was 18 and his father passed away a year later. He is survived by two sons, John and Andrew; a granddaughter and his wife, Rose of 28 years.
Joel had extensive college credits his interests were wide ranging. He worked for many years at Bath Iron Works and the ship building industry as a draftsman until exposure to noxious fumes caused early retirement. He designed heavy equipment foundations for navy vessels.
Outside of work he had several patents for his designs which included the York Pack, a water proof equipment container for white water rafting for canoes. He also designed canoe paddles and other equipment. He was excellent at white water rafting. He had an extensive tool collection and when not rafting he was designing and building small boats.
Joel had a great Down East sense of humor and told stories in the local dialect like his description of the Deer Isle pick up truck. He sailed his own boat or crewed on sailboats with friends. He was in much demand for his humor. Joel was the “voice” of the Monhegan Island Regatta for WGAN and interviewed participants on air. He had a passion for motorcycles and was also a private pilot. He was always driven by his love of the water. He always had a boat he was going to buy or one in the back yard. Even when it was pointed out to him that his balance was no longer what it used to be, he simple said boating is what I do and part of who I am.
A gathering and celebration of Joel’s life will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 1-3pm at Lindquist Funeral Home 1 Mayberry Lane Yarmouth, Me 04096.
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