Bar Harbor
Adam Joshua “A.J.” Emmett, 45, passed from this Earth on April 11, 2019, from accidental drowning in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor. A.J. was born on July 26, 1973, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the son of Mark and Paula Emmett.
A.J. grew up a happy and mischievous kid who could often be found at the pool and tennis court in the Mews, where his family lived in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. He was adored by all for his friendly demeanor and precociousness.
During high school, A.J. became an avid mountain biker and skier. This was the beginning of a lifelong love of outdoor sports and adventure.
Though he spent some time studying psychology at Adelphi University and Northeastern, A.J. found that he was drawn to more earthly and physical pursuits.
The summer after graduating from high school, A.J. moved to Bar Harbor to live with his older brother. He worked for Acadia Bike & Kayak and at Acadia Outdoors. He spent many days biking on the carriage roads, sea kayaking along the coast and learning how to climb with friends on the island’s many boulders and cliffs. That summer began A.J.’s lifelong love of Mount Desert Island/Acadia, a place that he considered his home.
After spending some time traveling and living briefly in Boulder, Colo., near Seneca Rocks in West Virginia, in the Franconia Notch/White Mountain area of New Hampshire, in Winston-Salem, N.C., and in Joshua Tree, Calif., A.J. returned to Bar Harbor to live and work.
A.J. was a skilled carpenter who worked on many building projects with his good friend Dave Lavelle, for many of the Island’s construction companies, with his own Ace Remodeling Co., and most recently for the Nelson F. Goodwin Co., a building contractor on MDI.
A.J. was also a talented photographer, musician and an enthusiastic record collector.
He was a beloved son, brother and uncle.
Adam is survived by his former wife, Rebecca Hunter; mother, Paula Sokolow, and husband, Jerry Sokolow; brother Richard Emmett and his wife, Kimberly Lawson; nephews Aubrey and Levi Emmett; uncles Art Pumpian and his sons, Ryan and Jeremy; Gary Emmett and his wife, Marianne, and their children Gillian, Ariel, Ilana and Issac; Sam Emmett and his wife, Judy, and their children Brent and Debbie. He was predeceased by his father, Mark Lawrence Emmett.
A.J.’s family invites friends and co-workers to join them for a celebration of life that will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at the Fogtown Brewing Co., 25 Pine St., Ellsworth, ME 04605. A.J.’s musician friends are encouraged to stay and play some songs during the open mic that follows.
Those who desire may make contributions in A.J.’s memory to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Maine and Friends of Acadia.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald Funeral Homes located at 1139 Main St., Mount Desert, ME 04660.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.