COREA AND MILBRIDGE
Thomas Allen Bridges
Nov. 9, 1942 – Nov. 29, 2018
Born in Birch Harbor but raised in Corea, “Tommy Tide,” Thomas Bridges, has passed to a place where there will be calm seas and abundant catches. He passed peacefully at his home.
As a young boy, his desire to be on the ocean started very early, as early as 6, when he went with his grandfather Grafton Dyer on a sardine boat in Dyer’s Bay seining. This would be something Tommy would do again many times in his younger years; he was even photographed and made “legendary” early on in photograph taken of him in Winter Harbor seining.
Fishing was as natural to him as breathing, passed down through Bridges genes, but it was at the tender age of 14 that Pappy suggested to him on a very cold January day that he go out fishing with his Uncle Ellis. Thinking the below freezing temperatures and the terrible sea conditions would deter him, Pappy was quite surprised when Tommy informed him he had found what he wanted to do and that was just what he did for the next 60 years. A fixture in Corea Harbor, he fished for lobsters, gillnetted, shrimped, halibut trawled and his much loved scalloping. Tommy never missed a scallop season in 52 years. Boy did he love filling those gallon bags right to the point that you couldn’t possibly put another scallop in the bag.
As any great legend would want, his fishing legacy will be carried on for many generations to come through his son and many grandchildren. Perhaps that is the greatest compliment to any man, when your family follows in the footsteps that you have already taken yourself and continues your story by both doing and telling the stories of the good old days and the man himself.
Known up and down the coast of Maine and beyond, he will be known as one of the greats of his time. A Legend. That phrase really brought out that ever infectious smile of his. Tommy was known to have gotten into a scrap or two or 10 here or there, but he always came out on the other end with a smile on his face and great story to tell.
He was always a friend to lend a hand, a fisherman to help another fisherman, a good ole fellow to have a good time. He was a very proud father, but perhaps his greatest joy was watching over his growing family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Tom has spent the last years of his life in the companionship of Madolyn Byers. They enjoyed taking many rides all over Downeast Maine but in particular and right up until his passing to Tom’s beloved Corea Harbor to “just see what was going on.” They were usually accompanied by a four-legged friend, including Digger and most recently Lucy.
He was predeceased by his two babies, Timothy and Baby Bridges, mother and stepfather Corinne “Lassie” and Allison “Pappy” Bishop, his stepmother Ruby Bridges, brother Alton Bridges and his son-in-law John McKenzie. He is survived by his father, Chancey Bridges, his children, Brenda and John, Bryan and Pam, Barbara and Mark, Kimberlea. Grandchildren, Thomas and Chris, Jeffrey, Danielle and Jr., Ryan and Heather, Samantha and Rand, Tomi Lee and Adam, Jacob, Cassidy. Great-grandchildren: Jayden, Jenna, Christopher, Brennan, Bailey, Raegan and Eben. His siblings: Richard (Dick) Bridges and Cindy Lowe, Jeff, Sherrill, Wayne and Lorne Bridges. Nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. at the Gouldsboro Community Center. The family hopes you will come tell a story and share a memory.