Frederick B. Jensen ’65

FALMOUTH – Frederick “Fred” Barbrick Jensen, 78, passed away in Portland on Jan. 24, 2021, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The son of Frederick Boe, and Christine Nona (Gorwood) Jensen, he was born in Portland on June 30, 1942.

Fred and his brother Richard “Rick” Jensen grew up in the North Gate area of Portland, and both attended Portland elementary schools. Fred graduated from Deering High School, class of 1960, where he met his wife, Darleen Donovan. The two were married while Fred was a student at Maine Maritime Academy. He graduated from MMA in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering.

As part of his program Fred served in the Navy Reserves. He worked for American Trade and Production Company on different ships, but he mostly worked on the American Trader and the Marilyn Trader.

After a few years at sea, he and Darleen decided they would like him to be around more, especially for the family traditions and holidays he was missing. He started working for Moran on the tugboats in New York. Fred was now able to fly home more often and enjoy more time with his wife and two young daughters, Wendy and Stacy. During this time he became a chief engineer on the Moran’s tugboats in Portland Harbor. Fred earned this position after many months of persistence and determination, but felt it was well worth the effort to be as close to home as Portland Harbor. It was not only an immense disappointment, but also sheer frustration for all the Moran employees when the company decided to move all the tugboats back to New York, without any notice to the union or employees.

When deciding what to do next, Fred and Darleen started to discuss the idea of becoming entrepreneurs in the retirement and assisted living future of the state of Maine. They decided to build Ledgeview Estates in Cumberland Foreside in memory of their daughter, Wendy Sue Jensen, whom they lost to a snowmobile accident in 1988. The business was a great success and made a major impact on the surrounding area. After running the business for many years they sold it and it was renamed Ledgeview Assisted Living.

Fred always had a love for antique classics, and unusual automobiles. Many happy years of his life were spent working on his famous corvette and taking it out for rides in the White Mountains on sunny days, often with the top down.

Fred and Darleen loved to travel to Europe and especially to the islands of the Caribbean during the long Maine winters.

Fred was predeceased by his daughter, Wendy Sue Jensen; his brother, Richard; and his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Darleen of Falmouth; his daughter, Stacy Jensen of Raymond; his sisters-in-law, Maryjane Lecours of Gorham, and Jeanine Donovan of Portland; several nieces and nephews; and his loving dog, Bellah.

There will be a small family committal service in the spring, when it is safe for people to be together. Arrangements are under the care of Jones, Rich and Barnes, Portland.