Obituary of Henry Hugo Eckman

Henry “Hank” Hugo Eckman of Bowdoin was born May 30, 1936, in Bar Harbor to Margaret Ladd Eckman and Hugo Eckman. Henry passed away unexpectedly on December 16, 2018, in his home in Bowdoin. During part of Henry’s childhood his father, Hugo, was stationed overseas for most of World War II. Henry spent many days at his Grandparents, Henry Ladd and Katie Adams Ladd’s farm in Head of the Tide Belfast. Henry mentioned many times how enjoyable those formative years were spent with his grandparents on the farm. His friends referred to him as Hank, but we knew him as Henry. Henry graduated from the University of Maine with a mechanical engineering degree. He went to work for U. S. Gypsum in Lisbon Falls, ME as an engineer until the plant was closed in the early 1970s. Henry then began his entrepreneurial phase for the next thirty years. Around 2000, he went to work for S. W. Cole Engineering as a materials quality engineer for about four years before he finally retired. Henry said he was just an automotive mechanic but he was much more than that. Henry did restore antique cars for a period of time. He also got his pilot license and restored airplanes. He was an avid fly fisherman as was his father. Henry could not abide by drowning worms or using garden hackle. When Henry came to family gatherings he always brought brownies and a bag of books. During the summer months, he brought vegetables from his large garden. He will be missed at family gatherings by his Belfast cousins, Marcia Ladd Spears, Annette Ladd Williams, Dan and Maureen Ladd, and Sam Ladd, who were more like siblings to Henry. Henry lived a solitary life on his own terms, as he wanted it. Whether fishing Moosehead Lake from his cabin at Baker Cove or living alone in Bowdoin in the home he built by himself, he was comfortable in his solitude knowing that he was loved by family and friends. Henry was predeceased by his Father and Mother, Hugo and Margaret; Uncles, Bob Otis, John Henry Ladd, Harold Pattershall, Fred Eckman, and Ture Eckman. He is survived by his Aunts, Edith Blethen Ladd of Belfast, Virginia Ladd Otis of Leeds MA, Esther Eckman Pattershall of East Winthrop, and many cousins. We would like to thank Henry’s close friend, Kris Lidback and his family for being such good neighbors. A graveside service at Grove Cemetery in Belfast will be announced at a later date.