STONINGTON
Wayne “Butch” Ciomei, 59, died unexpectedly on Friday, May 18, 2018, while doing what he loved — being on the ocean. Butch was a lifelong lobsterman who also enjoyed scalloping during the winter months and halibut fishing each spring.
Butch was known as a hard-working, honest, thoughtful, generous man who touched everyone’s lives that he met. So many say that they were blessed to have known him.
Butch met the love of his life, Shari, in high school and they were married in 1982 and had a beautiful life together for 36 years. They had three wonderful children, who also developed a love for lobstering, son Seth with fiancée Sara Larrabee and son Lance and his wife, Tabitha, and a daughter, Chelsea along with her spouse Tyler Torrey. Butch’s greatest pride was his 11 grandchildren, Tristan, Taylor, Brantley, Hunter, Haven, Aliyah, Colton, Lincoln, Kinsley, Easton and Essie. He was an amazing grandfather who could always be seen spending many special times with each of them and was greatly adored by all.
He enjoyed serving on the board of directors of the Stonington Lobster Co-op for many years, the same co-op where his grandfather, Aldo Ciomei, was a past manager. He had many fellow lobstermen who shared a special bond with him and each would always be there to help each other out.
Recently one of his proudest accomplishments was earning his “captain’s license,” which he put in many long hours studying for.
In the past, he has also enjoyed being a volunteer for the Stonington Fire Department, taking karate lessons with his sons, watching his daughter play tennis, going musseling, clamming, making special wooden furniture, gardening, and hunting and taking special trips to Siesta Key beach with his wife and family.
He is survived by his five brothers, Clayton, Glen, Kurt, Stephen, Thomas and a sister, Stacey and their families. His mother and father-in-law, Robert and Colleen Burgess who loved him and thought of him as a son. His sisters-in-law, Becky, Pam and brother-in-law Brian along with each of their families also loved and will cherish the many happy and wonderful memories of special times they all shared through the years.
He was predeceased by his parents, Edrie and Marshall “Wayne” Ciomei, grandparents, Alfred and Alice Joyce, and Aldo and Essie Ciomei, all of whom were very special to him.
His favorite song was “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw, which is how he chose to live his life. We find peace in knowing that he is with his beloved grandfather, Aldo Ciomei, who he shared a special bond with.
The memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 27, at the Deer Isle-Stonington High School Gym located at 251 N Deer Isle Road, Deer Isle, ME 04627 at 2 p.m.
Flowers may be sent to Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Homes, 215 Main St., Ellsworth, ME 04605.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Island Fishermen’s Wives scholarship program or Memorial Ambulance Corps.