Archive for June, 2025

David R. Cross ’86

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

passed away on September 27, 2024. Cross’ adventurous spirit shone through his remarkable life as a surfer, Merchant Mariner, and innovative professional in the modular container industry. His motto, “What can I do to make your day better?” guided him until his last day, when he was helping family and brightening their lives.

HELLO!!

Lt. Col. Hugh V. Tillman USMC ’87

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

passed away on June 8, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was born almost 60 years earlier. He hoped the shadows on his scans were the pink bubble gum he swallowed as a 6-year old. Unfortunately, the big C had taken hold of his pancreas. As a child, Tillman’s dream was to become a pilot. After graduating from MMA, he fulfilled that dream as a Marine, a flight instructor, a government contractor, and a commercial airline pilot. If you’re interested in the nitty-gritty of his career, he’d tell you to Google it. However, the internet won’t mention how he influenced a fellow Marine to quit smoking by offering him $100 if he stayed away from cigarettes for the duration of their deployment; how he kept his promise to Marines and their families of anytime/anywhere by picking up a spouse and child in the middle of the night when she couldn’t drive home after having one too many at a beach picnic; or how his favorite flights were those he showed wide eyed children the cockpit of an A330 and handed them one of the pilots wings he always carried in his flight bag. Tillman was a people person. He enjoyed and lived life to its fullest. In his own words, “I lived the equivalent of ten lives in the things I accomplished, places I was able to see, and the goals I had for myself. I have no regrets.”

HELLO!!

Gregory L. Logue ’92

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

of Windham, Maine, died in a car accident on October 30, 2024. He was a proud U.S. Merchant Marine; a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend; and a lifelong Mainer. Logue grew up in Scarborough, near Pine Point Beach, where he spent countless days playing in the sand. He graduated from Mt. Desert Island High School and MMA, fulfilling his father’s lifelong dream of becoming a merchant mariner. He enjoyed a long career as a marine engineer and union member of MEBA. He sailed all over the world, working with his union brothers on oil tankers, cargo ships, car carriers, bulkers, and research vessels. Logue will be remembered as smart and resourceful, a hard worker with a brilliant mechanical mind. From welding to plumbing to electrical to engine work, Logue did it all. He was always willing to lend a hand to family and friends and was always the one people called when they needed help moving. Logue was also warm, loyal, gregarious and funny. Above all, Logue loved his family, his friends, and the great state of Maine. He and his wife were trying to visit every Maine State Park: jumping in the car whenever they could, gawking at the fall foliage and posing in front of lighthouses like tourists.

HELLO!!

Robert G. McGuire ’92

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

brief, but extraordinarily brave battle with cancer. McGuire graduated from Deer Isle High School in 1988 and MMA in 1992 with a BS in Marine Engineering. He continued his education at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering school in Maryland. Shortly after graduating, McGuire began his 25+ year career, rising to Chief Engineer on various container ships all over the world. His travels took him to places most can only imagine and the stories of his adventures were eagerly anticipated upon his return. McGuire could spin many a good tale, with wit and humor, about different countries, situations he found himself in and the people he’d met; and likewise, his shipmates looked forward to his stories of family, friends and, by now, the infamous island of Deer Isle. McGuire was known for his unwavering determination to fix things, anything. He was a thinker, problem solver, builder of tree houses, chicken coops and gazebos. He was an electrician, plumber, drywall hanger, painter, stone mason, mechanic and cabinet maker. He could do anything. McGuire was a dedicated, hardworking husband and father who always put the needs of others before his own. He was a shining light to his family and friends, and his passing will be mourned by so many who had the privilege of knowing and loving him. His life may not have been long, but it was tremendously full.

HELLO!!

Patrick D. Welch ’92

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

passed on February 12, 2025, from complications of heart and kidney transplants brought on by giant cell myocarditis. Welch attended Caribou High School, graduating in 1988. Growing up he enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, skiing, golfing, and refereeing Little League. The one class he focused on was Home Economics, which he took for three years. Welch was the only boy in the class and was spoiled with cookies and brownies. Welch attended MMA, where his parents learned he could get straight A’s without the distraction of girls in his classes, graduating with a B.S. in marine engineering, Welch was the Regimental Executive Officer and sailed on the TS State of Maine. Throughout his schooling and career, he traveled throughout the world to many places including the Soviet Union, Egypt, and Europe. After his career in shipping, he transitioned to managing power plants in Fort Fairfield and Rumford, then working for GE Power, GE Power Digital, and GE Vernova, receiving numerous awards for excellence. Welch earned his MBA in international business management at Northeastern University in 2009. He loved coaching his son’s baseball team, traveling to see his children’s sporting and school events, riding his bike next to his wife as she competed in 5Ks and marathons, taking his family on epic vacation adventures, camping, skiing, and just being together. Welch was always the first person willing to help his friends and he collected the very best. His friends were family, with whom he enjoyed annual adventures and cherished traditions.

HELLO!!

Chad J. Morin ’96

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

passed away unexpectedly on February 25, 2025, at his home in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Morin was born in Biddeford, Maine, graduated Biddeford High School in 1991, and MMA with a BS in Marine Engineering. Morin began his engineering career as a 3rd engineer on a tugboat. He quickly moved through the ranks and accepted a position as the Chief Engineer on the oil tanker, MV Florida, built in 2013. Between sailing on the MMA training ship TV State of Maine, and sailing on other ships, he was able to see a lot of the world, from Europe to Africa and the Caribbean. Morin had a love for history and enjoyed learning about the places he visited and continuing to gain more knowledge about U.S. history. He brought his boxed set of the PBS Civil War documentary on every ship rotation. Morin loved music. If he wasn’t blasting Metallica or Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” from the shower, in his workshop, or out the windows of his truck on West Grand Avenue, he was playing his guitar, getting his family to sing along with him or making up his own songs. Besides being a talented engineer, Morin was a skilled builder. Soaking in everything he could from his first job at Spang Builders in high school, he used that knowledge to help customize the dream house.

HELLO!!

Rebecca A. Riser Miller ’06

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

died November 24, 2024, at her home in Boothbay. Riser Miller was born in Boston, Mass. She graduated from Wiscasset High School in 2004 with honors, having also been on the 2003 winning girls track team. She graduated from MMA with an associate degree in Small Vessell Operations in 2006, and from the University of Maine at Orono cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition in 2009. From the age of 13 she was crew on the Windjammer fleet out of Rockland, first crewing on the Isaac H. Evans, eventually becoming first mate. She also crewed on the Victory Chimes. Riser Miller had an impeccable work ethic. She worked in the food industry for many years and began working at The First National Bank in 2016, eventually becoming a senior banking consultant. A group of loyal customers considered her their go-to person to solve any out-of-the-ordinary issues they were having. Riser Miller participated in many charitable initiatives throughout the community. Riser Miller enjoyed drawing, writing, reading, sailing, animals, hiking, and gardening. She dearly loved her children and would often take them to explore Ocean Point and the various land trust trails. She was known as an independent go-getter and curious thinker who pushed herself to continue to learn. Her attention to detail was unsurpassed, especially when it came to watching over her loved ones. She was sentimental, sensitive, and caring.

HELLO!!

Jeremy W. Beane ’08

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

passed away on August 23, 2024. In 1997, he graduated from Morse High School with honors. Beane graduated from University of Maine with honors, receiving his Mechanical Engineering degree. He went on to earn a degree, as Valedictorian of the Bath Iron Works Apprenticeship/MMA program. He worked as a stern man on a lobster boat out of Five Islands and for the American Bureau of Shipbuilding (ABS). He was most recently employed at Bath Iron Works as an Engineer in Quality Control management. He was a longtime member of the Bath Lodge of Elks. Beane’s passion was working in his garage building engines. A remarkable engineer, he built and modified numerous engines for family and friends. He enjoyed powerboats, ice fishing, hunting, camping, and snowmobiling. An experienced boatman, he especially loved boating along the waterways of the Kennebec River, and along the waters around Seguin Island. The voice of reason, Beane was the rudder of the ship, always on a steady course. He especially loved the annual boating and ice fishing camping trips to Moosehead Lake, where he loved catching fish and cooking for his friends. A born naturalist, Beane could grow anything from seed. He was interested in plants, trees, and wildlife.

HELLO!!

Christopher J. Rodriguez ’12

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

passed away on December 14, 2024. Rodriguez graduated with honors from Skowhegan High School in 2008 and from MMA in 2012. Rodriguez was employed in the shipping industry and received his 2nd class engineering license. After residing in Florida for a few years, Rodriguez relocated in the San Diego area to work a landside position for a contracting company as an Estimator for navy ship repairs. In Rodriguez’s younger years, he played soccer in high school, loved skateboarding, and enjoyed learning guitar. He worked hard in receiving a Brown Belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Later he took up boxing. He loved doing card tricks and would enjoy showing them to family and friends. Rodriguez enjoyed snowmobiling with his family, taking trips up North and spending time with extended family. Rodriguez loved hiking, fishing, and snowboarding. He had taken an interest in the business world by investing in others as they started up their own businesses. When Rodriguez had time off, he looked forward to spending time back in Maine visiting family and friends as well as spending time at the family camp at Cold Stream Pond. Rodriguez’s family could not wait for his visits and see his big smile coming through the door. Rodriguez recently relocated to Maine to be with family and continued to explore career opportunities. He had recently completed a program for marine design at BIW.

HELLO!!

Oliver Cole ’23

Posted on: June 10th, 2025 by bryan.wolf No Comments

passed away on February 17, 2025. A dedicated and passionate individual, Cole lived a life rich in adventure, always seeking new challenges and experiences. He led an active lifestyle, practicing archery and exploring the depths of the ocean while scuba diving. His deep curiosity made him a fascinating person to be around. Cole had an incredible ability to learn anything he set his mind to, always succeeding through hard work and perseverance, even when the odds were against him. Cole’s pursuit of a career in the Navy began at MMA, where he graduated from the Engineering Technology program. He dreamed of continuing his education and growing in his career, always striving to improve himself and serve his country with honor. He had a gentle soul and a profound respect for others. He was a patient listener, often speaking little but always offering words that carried weight when he did. Those who knew him treasured his dry, dark sense of humor that brought both laughter and insight in equal measure. Cole’s love of reading, watching movies, and diving into intellectual pursuits made him an enriching presence in any conversation. Though he never sought attention, his quiet but strong presence was felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him. They will deeply miss his wisdom, compassion, and unassuming strength. His legacy of quiet resilience, deep intelligence, and generosity will live on in all who were fortunate enough to know him.

HELLO!!