BRUNSWICK – Perry A. Lamb of Brunswick, died on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016 at his home in Brunswick.
He was born Feb. 4, 1921, to Willis E. and Marie (Metcalf) Lamb in Oakland, Calif. He was raised in Los Angeles, Calif. and graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1938. He went on to college at the University of California Berkeley and graduated with a degree in forestry in 1942.
He served two stints in the army totaling nine years. In his first tour of duty he taught communications at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., commanded the 2nd Radio Security Section in Presque Isle, and worked in the 11th Radio Security Section in the Aleutians Islands. On his second tour of duty, during the Korean War, he served in Germany as a security officer. In 1946, while stationed in Presque Isle, he met his future wife, Barbara. They were married on May 9, 1947.
Perry and Barbara lived in Woodland Hills California in the early 1950s. Even early on, Perry was a gentleman farmer keeping geese and ducks, fruit trees and honeybees. He was employed by the Bell Telephone Company until his retirement in 1975. He worked in the Los Angeles area until the family moved to Carlsbad, Calif. in 1956. In Carlsbad he spent years managing family property at the Batiquitos Lagoon. He was a member of the Carlsbad Planning Commission from 1963 to 1966 and was very active in local politics. He was instrumental in bringing the water supply to South Carlsbad which led to its future development.
He was an excellent swimmer and waterman from a young age. He was also the captain of the water polo team at Berkley. In California, he was an ardent ocean fisherman and boater. On one occasion he caught a 260-pound black sea bass. In the 1970s the family moved to Farmington, Maine. He received a masters degree in education at the University of Maine at Farmington. In time, he renewed his interest in forestry. By means of 15 separate purchases he created a large tree farm in New Sharon. Over the years he improved this property with roads, selective cutting, and planting of gardens and fruit trees.
Perry was a registered Maine forester and was selected as the Outstanding Tree Farmer for Franklin County in 1994 and 1998. He was thoroughly involved in local and state forest and land use politics. He wrote several articles based on the issues he encountered in managing his tree farm.
He was always very proud of his two brothers. Willis Eugene Lamb, Jr. was a physicist who won the Nobel prize in 1955. John Lamb was a movie producer in Los Angeles. He was a wonderful caring father. His love was always tempered by his sarcasm and sharp wit. He was a unique individual, even difficult at times.
He spent countless hours preparing for his family’s future. He was a good provider to everyone and was always there when you needed him. His strong presence will be greatly missed.
Perry is survived by his loving wife of 69 years Barbara L. (Robertson) Lamb of Brunswick; son Jay Lamb and his wife Lorraine of Melbourne, Australia; daughter Susie Lamb and her partner Dr. Alan Weiner of Freeport; daughter Catherine Moeller and her husband Dave of Tacoma, Washington; and son Willis Lamb and his wife Lynn of Farmington; grandchildren: Elizabeth Lamb, Eagle Dye,Trafton Moeller, Abby Moeller, Laura Moeller, Tyler Lamb and Tathra Lamb and great grandson Charlie Shafto.
A private family remembrance will be held in the spring.
My condolences to the family. So sorry for your loss.
My condolences to the entire family. Thinking of you both Billy and Lynn
My sincerest condolences to the Lamb family.
Such a long and active life has ended. I think it is a blessing to die in your sleep. Hoping that sweet memories of better times can heal the heart.
It was several decades ago when I was out hiking, exploring new roads and trails I had not yet managed to visit in our area when one hot summer night, after a few miles on my feet, I approached his home in New Sharon where he was then living hoping to find someone at home who could offer me a glass of water. Had never met Perry until then but on this as many other times he rose to the occasion and then some.
Perry was both physically as well as in many other ways a towering figure, a remarkable person who led a highly remarkable life. Every conversation with him was an education. He also was an enthusiastic cook though in that regard he was of course toiling in the shadows of his talented daughter in law Lynn Washburn Lamb.
Besides culinary generosity Perry was also an intellectual philanthropist, giving with great dexterity and agility his challenging ideas and innovative thoughts, befitting of course someone whose brother was a Nobel Prize Laureate.
Will miss him a lot.
I liked Perry. He was always interesting to talk to. I hadn’t seen him in years. I’m sorry he’s gone.
Thanks everybody. I learned a lot of cooking skills from Perry’s wife Barbara Robertson Lamb. At the time when I met the Lambs I was in jr high, they were renting out to Clearwater. After high school I went out to California and stayed with the Lambs, Barbara taught me a lot about the California lifestyle as we cooked for the family. I think one of the reasons Perry lived so long and was so healthy was his meals had been hand crafted by Barbara with the freshest of food, no short cuts and no processed junk. I will always be grateful to my in-laws for letting me share their lives with them for so many years. There is a huge void where he once was, He will be remembered with laughs, love and tears. They of course gave me the best possible gift, their son Billy, the best husband on earth. The world will never be the same without him in it.
LWL
To the Lambs,
I celebrate Perry’s joyful life and his wonderful family. Perry was a mentor who helped me along my convoluted career path, who gave generously of his time and ideas, who found chores for me to do when I was between jobs, who fed me when I was hungry. He and Barbara raised lovely children in turbulent times. All the Lambs are dear to me, but I especially miss Perry and the time I spent with him on the farm in New Sharon. Barbara, it was a great gift seeing Perry flourish under your care these past few years.
Peace,
John Bean
I will miss the conversations about land, politics, economics and possibilities as
A consulting forester based in Maine. Always a pleasure and glad to have shared
Time with him.
Michael Kankainen,ACF
A giant has fallen. Perry and my father, Bob Bean,out together stirring things up comes all too easily to mind – trouble times two – and I say that with all fondness. Perry’s sharp wit brought life to any gathering or conversation. I value my times talking with this man. I will miss him. Love to Barbara, Susie, Cathy, Billie and Jay.