Chester I. Hopkins, III ’62

Capt. Chester “Chet” I. Hopkins, III, 75 of Damariscotta, passed away on the morning of March 10th, at the Maine Medical Center in Portland. Born on January 15, 1941 in Melrose, MA, he was the son of Mabel and Chester Hopkins, Jr.

Chet grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Reading High School. He went on to further his studies at Maine Maritime Academy, where he graduated in 1962 as a Deck Officer. Upon graduation, he immediately went to work and sailed for American Export Lines.

He worked for American Export Lines for 17 years, moving from sea to shore in 1969, where he worked ashore for them in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and England. From 1979 to 2005, he worked for several different shipping companies before retiring as Vice President of Operations for a French shipping line, CMA-CGM Maritime.

Upon his retirement in 2005 he, and his wife Catherine, moved to Damariscotta. While here, he volunteered at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath for 10 years, and was an active member of St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, and was a former Grand Knight for them.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Catherine Flynn Hopkins; two sons, Michael and Stephen; mother, Mabel; and siblings, Judith Cheney, Sandra Flynn and husband James, Robert Hopkins and wife Kathy, and Susan Schaefer and husband Steven.

A time to visit with the family will be held from 4-6pm, on Monday, March 14th at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10am, on Tuesday, March 15th at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Old St. Patrick’s Church Fund”, 380 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle, ME 04553. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta. Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.com.