On Aug. 14, 2019, Carl Johan Hamrin, loving husband and father, passed away at the age of almost 87.

Carl was born on Sept. 26, 1932 in Stockholm, Sweden. He received a degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and was an avid sailor and computer geek, combining computer assisted design with his love of the ocean. He served as an ensign in the Royal Swedish Navy and loved to sail the archipelagos in the Baltic, North Sea and Caribbean. On Sept. 22, 1963, he married Jeannie at the Seaman’s Church in Copenhagen, Denmark. They raised two daughters, Kristina and Sofia in Sweden and Maine.

Carl had a passion for the sea, sailing and fishing that started as a toddler when he would ride the Djursholm ferries in Stockholm’s archipelago, fishing on the west coast, racing Finn Dinghies in the Baltic and sailing boats across the North Sea, around Scandinavia and the Caribbean. After becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1975, he owned many boats and even lobstered part-time in Cape Porpoise. His last boat was a Parker that he skippered as a proud coxswain in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was known for his quick wit, his “mischievous” smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents and older sister. He is survived by an older brother, his wife and their two children, one granddaughter and several cousins, nieces and nephews and their children.

He worked happily as an engineer on container ships, as a researcher at the Royal Institute of Technology, as a systems analyst, director of computer services at University of New Hampshire and University of New England and finally as vice-president at Taction. Being Swedish, everything was “lagom” (in balance) so work/play balance was “just right.” He felt blessed to have done everything he wanted to accomplish while he was in good health. He enjoyed exploring all seven continents, wonderful backpacking holidays in New Zealand, Iceland, Sweden, Pacific Crest, Greenland; yearly visits to Puerto Vallarta and Bermuda and hosting six international exchange students.

Later in life, Carl was active with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Signal Point Marina, fire department, Harbor Theater and the Boothbay Region Health Center serving on boards and helping with technology.

J.K. Rowling said, “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” During his planning meeting for coming home with hospice care, Carl jumped into this experience full speed ahead. He knew that when he got home, life was no longer “hopeful of meaningful recovery,” and home care resources were “limited” and he chose not to place an “undue burden” on his family.

With his ethos of moderation and stubbornness, he decided to die on his terms. He didn’t want a funeral service. He underwent an eco-friendly green cremation. Family and friends will celebrate his well-lived life in both Sweden and Maine at later dates.

Carl said the only advantage of dying after living with eight years of chronic Lyme Disease, is that he had time to research the effects of failure to diagnose and treat Borrellia burgdorferi, Babiosiosis and Bartonella Hensae. He used his giant intellect and research skills to discover many unbelievable characteristics from a tick bite.

In death, he still wants to help people with Lyme. If you are moved to help those who suffer from Lyme, please make a donation in Carl’s memory to https://lymediseaseassociation.org/donate/

The link will allow you to determine where you want your donation to go.