David Pierce passed away Aug. 22, 2021.

Dave was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts on June 18, 1927. He spent his life working and living on or around the water. He learned to sail at an early age and was running a schooner at the age of 14. In his twenties his travels took him to the Bahamas where he ran a schooner in the charter boat business. He met his future wife Elizabeth (Betty) Andrews while working there. Dave and Betty were married on a schooner in Nassau Harbor in 1954. They raised two daughters on both the schooner and later a Novi boat for 10 years before moving to Maine.

Upon moving to Maine Dave worked at Hodgdon Brothers Boatyard and later managed the Tillotson Boatyard for several years. He also managed Summerfields Boatyard in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Brewer’s Boatyard on Southport.

Dave and Betty lived in Cosy Harbor, Southport. They could often be seen sailing their Christmas Cove one design in the Sheepscot River. After Dave retired they sold their family home on Southport and bought a 42-foot sailboat. They sailed back and forth to the Bahamas while living aboard until Betty’s death in 1994. After her death, he continued sailing to the Bahamas with his younger brother Pete until they became too old to safely make the trip. Dave then moved into a one room house in the village of Hope Town, Bahamas. The people of Hope Town accepted him as family. He could often be seen sitting at a booth at the local pub or on a bench overlooking the harbor telling sea stories. Dave loved life, he loved his family and he loved real down to earth people.

Dave will be missed by his family and many friends he met along the way, daughters Gale Darwin and Fran Pierce, son-in-law Wilson Darwin, grandchildren Christine and Jay Darwin, and Evelyn Smith.

The family would like to send their heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Gregory Wing for the love and care Dave received during his stay. There will not be a memorial service.