Obituary of Miles Waverly Weaver

SOUTHWEST HARBOR - Miles Waverly Weaver died on October 22, 2014. The youngest child of Miles Franklin Weaver and Etta Hazle Judkins Weaver, Miles was born on December 18, 1923 in Los Angeles, California. Miles graduated from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles and enlisted in the Coast Guard shortly thereafter. He was a Seaman, First Class aboard the troop carrier USS Adm. W.L. Capps stationed in the Pacific during WWII. In 1944 while the carrier was undergoing repairs in Norfolk, Virginia he wandered into the Traveler's Aid office of the USO. The attractive receptionist caught his eye, and on June 28, 1947 in Reading, Mass he married Polly Parker Stembridge. Having already graduated from Los Angeles Community College on the GI Bill, he and Polly moved to Los Angeles so that he could continue his studies at UCLA. He later transferred to Clark University, Worcester, Mass where he received his BA and MA degrees in Geography. He worked for the City of Providence and then for the City of Portland (Maine) in the redevelopment offices during the urban renewal era in the 1950's. After leaving city hall he taught Earth Science at what was then Longfellow Junior High School in Portland, Maine. But that was not to be his career either; Miles loved sailing and decided to open his own business, Maine Sailing Yachts, on a Portland wharf. That firm eventually merged with Handy Boat Service in Falmouth. He then became the manager of MarinEast a new marina in South Portland. After several years at MarinEast, Miles became the service manager at Hinckley Yachts on the Manset shore in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Upon leaving Hinckley, Miles did advertising work for both Wilbur Yachts and Morris Yachts, along with many boat deliveries, with Polly as mate, along the eastern seaboard for Hinckley and others.In his retirement he devoted himself to a second passion, photography. His family's business in Los Angeles was Weaver Photo, and his grandfather, David R. Judkins, was an early west coast photographer. Miles and Polly volunteered many hours cleaning, printing and cataloging the glass plate negative collections at both the Southwest Harbor Public Library and the MacArthur Library in Biddeford. He also joined PHSNE (Photographic Historical Society of New England) enjoying their meetings and shows for many years. One of his quests was to purchase a model of every camera he or his family had owned. He managed to collect over 50 cameras, which he clearly loved. He also enjoyed setting up his own darkroom and developing and printing the many photos that he took.Music was a source of joy for him for his entire life. It started in boyhood with his family, and continued through his membership in the Fore River Flats, a barbershop quartet in Portland, and then as part of the productions of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society in Ellsworth and in the Music Man at the City Theater of Biddeford. In later years, Miles frequently would break into song as his form of communication, singing snippets from songs learned in childhood on up to the Beach Boys. Miles also loved the computer age, buying his first personal computer in the early 1980's. He enjoyed all of these activities until his mind began to be clouded by Alzheimer's. For the last few years he has enjoyed the company of his family, summers at Fortunes Rocks, trips to the west coast for family reunions, the warmth of the sun, talking about his youth and a cheap vodka martini.Miles was predeceased by his parents, his wife of 67 years Polly Stembridge Weaver, siblings Dorothea Johnston, Roby Weaver, Loyal Weaver and wife Mildred, Hazle Mary Fry and husband Jack. He is survived by his son David Judkins Weaver and wife Liz of Boston, daughter Elizabeth Smith Weaver-Radcliffe and husband Michael of Southwest Harbor, grandchildren Erin Rachel Sorenson Weaver of Portland, Oregon, Christina Radcliffe Lapointe and husband Derek of Southwest Harbor, Miles Edwin Sorenson Weaver of Silverthorne, Colorado and great-grandchildren Mason Michael Lapointe and Genevieve Parker Lapointe of Southwest Harbor. He is also survived by former daughter-in-law Elizabeth Sorenson of South Deerfield, Mass and dearly loved nieces and nephews and their families around the country - John & Charlotte Quick, Miles & Sherri Weaver, Ann Nichols, Jacke & Johnny Foster, Marnie & Mike Gleason, Sam Weaver, George & Sheila Fry and all their children.There will be a graveside service at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Reading, Massachusetts at the convenience of the family.In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Hancock County Homecare & Hospice, 441 Main St, Suite 2, Ellsworth, ME 04605 - See more at: http://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituaries/bdnmaine/obituary.aspx?n=miles-waverly-weaver&pid=172910511&fhid=30834#sthash.6PXWCIZ8.dpuf