mainemaritime.edu 45shore. After graduating from MMA he sailed the
world for years as a merchant mariner. He was an
engineer by trade and a mechanic at heart. Moore
worked in the steel industry and later moved to
Louisiana to work in oil and gas, where he stayed
for more than 30 years. He was quick with a
story or to lend a hand and was a man of many
pleasures – boating, motorcycles, dogs, fishing,
hunting and the sea.
Capt. David B. Eldridge Jr.
USN (Ret) ’53
died August 10 in Bethesda, Maryland. After
graduating from MMA, he served as a Naval Avi-
ator for 26 years. He served as Commanding Offi-
cer of the Navy Antarctic Squadron (VXE-6). He
received a Master of Arts from the University of
Rhode Island while completing the Senior Course
at the Naval War College. Eldridge served in the
Pentagon in the Defense Intelligence Agency and
OPNAV. After his retirement from the Navy he
returned to the merchant marine for a second
retirement from Bath Iron Works.
Francis H. Bromley, Jr. ’62
died August 21 in Scarborough, Maine. During
his childhood, he and his family promoted safety
of firearms and exhibitions of trick shooting. He
had special memories of Broadview Park. Over
the years he worked for Travelers Insurance Co.,
Maine Bonding & Casualty and Garrett-Callah-
an, before retiring from Bath Iron Works in 2005.
Bromley was a member of Cape Elizabeth Jaycees
and Scarborough Lions Club. He taught boiler
operation and defensive driving classes. In 1981,
he began officiating track and field at the high
school, college and corporate levels. This brought
many friends and good times over the years.
Ervin Velez Medina ’61
died September 1. Medina was born in Venezu-
ela, but grew up in Puerto Rico, becoming a U.S.
Citizen at an early age. He obtained a Bachelor
of Marine Science degree from MMA and then
became a merchant mariner based in New York
City. He traveled the world until he decided to
follow his father’s footsteps and went back to
Puerto Rico to become a Harbor Pilot. He retired
in 1998 and moved to Houston, Texas to be close
to his children and grandchildren and settled
in Kingwood where he enjoyed helping his neigh-
bors, woodworking, amateur radio and spoiling
his grandkids.
James L. Booze ’82
died September 19 in Annapolis, Maryland.
After MMA, he achieved the rank of Captain and
served on tug boats. He later put aside his career
for the love of his family and established, owned
and operated JLB Enterprise for 26 years. He had
a big heart, some would say, “a heart of a puppy”
and saved many dogs expanding not only his, but
the families of others.Capt. Paul R. Spear ’73
died May 29 in Valrico, Florida. He was top of his
class at Maine Maritime. He and his brother grew
up lobstering in Casco Bay with their father and
then by themselves, and put themselves through
college with the proceeds. Spear’s seagoing career
included 19 years with Exxon, where he attained
the rank of Captain. As one of Exxon’s most high-
ly regarded captains at that time, Paul was tapped
to helm the Exxon Valdez when the ship left
the repair dock after the 1989 oil spill in Prince
William Sound, Alaska, but turned down the
assignment to remain with his wife and young
son. He subsequently spent 22 years as a Tampa
Bay pilot, piloting more than 5,000 ships in and
out of the bay without incident, a fact of which he
was extremely proud. His accomplishment was
acknowledged by the U.S. Coast Guard upon his
retirement in 2013. When the MMA training ship
State of Maine was last in Tampa in 2004, Spear
had the honor of piloting the ship into and out of
the bay. This year’s training cruise also docked in
Tampa, and the captain and ship’s complement
honored his passing on June 2 as it left Florida
waters.Thomas J. Guthrie ’45
died August 25 in Ellsworth, Maine. After gradu-
ating as an engineer from MMA, Guthrie went to
sea with the Sprague Steamship Co. and traveled
the East Coast as well as across the Atlantic, typ-
ically hauling coal. Some of his most memorable
cross-Atlantic trips were aboard “Liberty Ships”
that brought soldiers home from Europe follow-
ing the end of World War II. It was during one of
his visits home to Ellsworth that he purchased a
share of the former Carl’s Grocery on High Street.
Guthrie later teamed with Hollis Hamilton, also
an independent grocer, and moved down High
Street a couple doors from Carl’s to open Park
and Shop. Years later, Guthrie and Hamilton
sold the business to Doug Brown and became
associates at Doug’s Shop and Save. In 1966, they
moved several more doors down High Street toa much larger Doug’s store. Later, Tom Guthrie
move down High Street again, and managed what
is now Hannaford. In total, Tom was a grocer
on High Street for nearly 40 years, worked with
hundreds of people that would become life-long
friends, and greeted thousands of customers with
a smile and a “thank you for your business.” He
was also very giving to his community, serving
as a deacon of the First Congregational Church,
50-year Mason, and as a Cub Scout Master.Peter D. Jordan ’71
died October 15 in Windham, Maine. After
graduating from MMA, he served 11 years in the
U.S. Naval Reserve and 33 years in the merchant
marine. He rose to the rank of Chief Engineer,
holding a chief ’s license in motor and steam,
any horsepower. Jordan sailed on the Great
Lakes, overseas, and briefly taught at the Maine
Maritime Academy. He then worked for the Delta
Queen Steamboat Company until his retirement.
After retirement, he served as a consultant for
private vessel owners, and was instrumental in
the restoration of the steam yacht, Cangarda.Robert O. Donnell Jr. ’68
died November 10 in York, Maine. Donnell was
a valued member of his community, owning
several businesses, as well as serving on the York
Board of Selectmen, York Shellfish Commission,
and the York Hospital Board of Trustees. He was
an active outdoorsman, enjoying hunting at the
camp he built at Machias Lake in Washington
County, gardening, and viewing wildlife, birds
and his beloved ocean. He liked nothing better
than helping out anyone who needed assistance
in any circumstance.Glenn Richard Benson ’85
died August 30, aboard the M/V Freedom, the
ship he was employed on as chief engineer, in the
Red Sea en route to Jordan. He took great pride in
his job and was well known and liked throughout
the fleet for his excellence as an engineer, both on
the job and with everyone he dealt with on a per-
sonal basis. Benson was known for his generosity
and his quick wit. He was an avid sports fan and
had a passion for hunting and fishing.Eight Bells