PORT CLYDE — Carl D. Schwab, 89, died peacefully, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Sussman Hospice House following a brief period of declining health and a lengthy fight with Alzheimer’s disease. He spent his last days surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in New York City, November 10, 1934, Carl was the son of Irving and Bessie Schechter Schwab. His father was an attorney and noted figure in the early American Civil Rights movement until his premature death on April 16, 1943, when Carl was only 9 years old. His father’s death left a lasting mark on Carl. He always kept his father’s memory alive, building the same love for justice, freedom, and our nation’s ideals into his own life.

Soon after his father’s death, he and his mother were invited for a summer vacation on Monhegan. Carl was determined to attend summer camp instead, but with a promise from his mother that he could go to camp the following summer, off they went. Thus begins Carl the Mainer. He fell in love with the island, its people, and especially the fishing boats and their crews. Within a few years, he started to join them. Upon graduating from Forest Hills High School in Queens in 1952, he immediately returned to his beloved Port Clyde, where he has since resided.

A few mentors and friends in particular helped set him on his path as a man of the sea, not the city: Levi Hupper, Bertie Simmons, Stanley Stone, and Alfred Stanley. He spent most of his working life as a commercial fisherman on many boats, of many types, including dragging, seining, and lobstering. Carl is one of the founding members of the Port Clyde Fisherman’s Co-op, where he has served as president, vice president, and as a member of the board of directors for many years.

While raising his family of five young children, Carl already began his work as an active community member, working with others to renovate the old two-room schoolhouse in Port Clyde, turning it into a recreation center for area youth. Later he also helped in the planning and building of the Collins Memorial Park and Playground in the village. Carl always remained active in the community, serving on several school and town committees, including many years on the St. George Comprehensive Planning Committee.

Carl loved sports and played men’s twilight league baseball, football, and basketball. He also coached St. George Little League and Babe Ruth teams for twenty years.

Later in life, Carl enjoyed traveling, often visiting Timeshare resorts, which was a hobby that followed from his years as a successful real estate agent, both independently and at the Samoset Resort.

He loved his country and his town. He identified strongly as an American, always proud of his immigrant heritage and achievements as a self-made man and active citizen. He always strived to represent the ideals that make this country a beacon for many. Foremost he loved his family; he was always there for them through good times and bad, with love, understanding, wisdom, and generosity.

Carl was predeceased by the mother of his children, Katherine Robinson Schwab Ariotti, on February 8, 1992, and his eldest daughter, Diana Jean Sturks on June 12, 2011.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy E. Spear Zwecker Schwab; two sons, Donald J. Schwab and Irving ‘Brett’ Schwab and his wife Ronda all of Port Clyde; two daughters, Kimberly A. Simpson and her husband Eric of Manchester, Michelle E. LaFrance and her husband Paul of Union; a son-in-law, James Sturks of Thomaston; a step-daughter, Roberta Zwecker Koska of Santa Fe, New Mexico; two step-sons, Sam Zwecker and his wife Wendy of Rockport, Michael Zwecker of Budapest, Hungary; 15 grandchildren, Devon, Donnie, Danika, James, Britta, Tyler, Trea, Hayden, Maddie, Isabella, Zoe, Samantha, Lea, Beni, and Miki; as well 15 great-grandchildren, Kamryn, Caroline, Brooks, Jackson, Kai, Addison, Maeve, Emery, Hazel, David, Hattie, Roman, Owen, Arlo, and Nina.

A memorial service will be held Friday, April 26, 2024, at 11 a.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A reception will be held following the service, from 12:30 to 3 p.m., at the Samoset Resort in the Rockport and Camden sections of the Knox County Ballroom. All are invited to join in food and drink to celebrate Carl’s life.

Donations in Carl’s memory are welcome and appreciated at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Foundation, https://donate.brightfocus.org.

To share a memory or condolence with the Carl’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.