George Tripp passed away at his home on April 23 as a result of ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease.

George was born in 10/09/1949 to parents, George O. Tripp, Jr. and Donna Stone Tripp Mattson. George’s younger years were spent living in Port Clyde with a “gang of kids” as he always put it. He loved to tell stories of these times, such as learning math by counting hot dogs, and about the rear-view mirror on his teacher’s piano designed to catch any who weren’t singing. Later, he moved to Waldoboro with his mother, siblings, and step-father.

After graduation from Waldoboro High School, he studied history at the University of South Carolina. Then in 1970, he received a job at Maine Coast Printers in Rockland, and began his training as an offset press operator. He loved the printing world and all of its challenges. In 1979, George and his wife, Katy, established their own company, Camden Printing. Customers became friends for many years and knew they could depend on him for quality work, friendship and stories. (For more information about George’s printing career, see the article written by friend Nancy Griffin “George Tripp, Camden Printing, and the end of an Era” in Knox County Village Soup, August 13, 2020.) https://knox.villagesoup.com/p/george-tripp-camden-printing-and-the-end-of-an-era/1866952)

George was active in the St. George Recreation Department and helped organize fund-raising events for the ballfield construction. He coached basketball and baseball teams for both of his sons and their friends. One of George’s favorite hobbies was to take his children camping, canoeing, and fishing. Lake St. George was a favorite place. Daughter Elizabeth will always remember a severe thunderstorm there when she and her father thought their tent would blow away. During the winters, George would go smelting with his sons and uncle “Junior” Wiley. Junior always entertained listeners with embellished stories of cold, but fun nights smelting. George also loved to cook, and his family and friends will always remember his pulled pork sandwiches, his grilled chicken, his green curry and Thai meals. George also grew large vegetable gardens for many years. Learning from the best, the family will carry on the tradition of home-cooking and gardening for years to come.

Survivors are his wife, Katy (Shesler), of almost 50 years; sons Aaron and his wife Pamela Podell, Benjamin Tripp and his wife Gretchen Knutson and their children Benjamin, Nicolas, and Isabelle; and daughter, Elizabeth Tripp and her daughter Madilyn.

Also surviving are siblings Rebecca Tripp, Jeffrey Tripp, and half-brothers John Eric Mattson and Matthew Mattson.

He was predeceased by his parents and brother Gilbert Tripp. He has many relatives in the area and countless wonderful and loving friends.

Our love and thanks to our community for all of their support and generosity. Special love to dear friends of many years – Dave and Sonja Schmanska, Lorrie Zeiner, Jeff and Leatrice Falla, Ellie McGrath, Linda Arnold, Betsy Welch, and to Bernadette Hackett who has given our family so much love over the years. We will all remember George at murder-mystery parties, special dinners, neighborhood pranks, and deck cook-outs. Special thanks to the ALS support community and Laurie McFarren who has been such a help in this journey. And to our loving hospice nurses and staff: Karen, Jo, Brenda, Val, Tony, and the care-givers at the Sussman House.

A private celebration of George’s life will be held at a later time. Donations can be made in his honor to the ALS Foundation for research, the St. George Ambulance or a charity of your choice.

We will miss this wonderful man so much.