People We've Lost
Timothy John Adelmann, Lee Spire Wilbur, Sarah Weston
Note: “People We’ve Lost” is a feature of the Bar Harbor Story where we share obituaries of people that the island lost in the previous 1-2 weeks. We’re doing this because we think everyone deserves to be remembered as widely as possible. If you have an obituary for a loved one or friend that you can’t afford to place in other spaces, please let us know and we’ll share it here for you.
Timothy John Adelmann
Bar Harbor
Timothy John Adelmann, 66, passed away June 17 at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center after his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children.
Tim was born the fifth of eight children to parents Eugene and Kaye Adelmann in Glencoe, Minn., where Vikings football ran in his blood.
He attended University of St. Thomas before moving to Alaska to work as a longshoreman and eventually enroll in meat-cutting school, a skill that became very useful when he later opened his own deli.
In 1996, he and his family moved from Alaska to Maine, where he made his forever home above the business he would grow into Adelmann’s Deli, serving delicious sandwiches for over 20 years, expanding the business to add custard and fried specialties. As he would say, “Nothing fancy, just good!”
Tim was a fixture in the Bar Harbor community, and was beloved for his goofy wit and humor, and was often spotted cruising around town in the summer months on his road bike.
A skilled carpenter, Tim worked on projects all over the region, and would offer his expertise to clients, friends and family to help make their home projects come alive.
He was selfless and adored his family, especially his three children and three grandchildren. His big, booming voice could be heard cheering them on during graduations, sporting events and other life celebrations. He could also be heard loud and proud cheering on the Boston Bruins, Red Sox and of course, Minnesota Vikings.
The loss of Tim’s presence is immense, and he will be deeply missed.
It’s a goal of his family to finish restoring his ’93 Dodge pickup truck, a years-long project he had in the works. Perhaps a piece of Tim will be driving around the island again one day.
He is survived by his children, Greg Adelmann (Caroline Smith), Hannah Adelmann, Sophie (Shane) Martin; three grandchildren, Paige Martin, Gage Martin and Vivian Adelmann.
He is also survived by his siblings, Tom (Martha) Adelmann, Ruth (John) Rysted, Mike Adelmann (Cheryl Novins), Nort (Shareen) Adelmann and Sarah (Jim) Spanos as well as many nieces and nephews.
Tim was predeceased by his parents and two brothers Peter and Paul Adelmann.
A celebration of life is being planned for the fall.
Lee Spire Wilbur
Southwest Harbor
Lee Spire Wilbur, 82, of Southwest Harbor, Maine, passed away peacefully in his home on June 6, 2025, after navigating a series of medical challenges toward the end of his life. Lee was a hardworking, loving and kind-hearted outdoorsman who loved to travel, hunt, fish, read, ski, dance, discover new recipes and encounter new people and their stories along the way. Lee was born on March 25, 1943 in Medford, Ore., to Herbert Tilden Wilbur M.D. (1911-1993) and Rebecca Ormand Wilbur (1911-1996). His family soon returned to Southwest Harbor, Maine, where he attended Pemetic High School and then later boarding school at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine.
At age 11, he started a shoeshine business, shoveled snow, and caught nightcrawlers for resale by the dozen, hanging his hand-painted shingle several feet away from his father’s “Doctor” sign. Learning the value and pleasure of work, he spent the next years finding steady pay with a landscape company, hardware store, delivering groceries at 15 and then working for the National Park Service.
Enlisting with the U.S. Army In 1961, Lee completed basic training at Fort Devens and eventually shipped out to Bad Aibling (ASA), Bavaria. While stationed in Bavaria, Lee and his fellow officers skied at every opportunity and rented an “off-duty” home in Kitzbuhel, Austria, where he met his first wife Adelheid (Heidi) Ingrid Lamberty in 1964. They were married on August 10, 1965, and had two children, Ingrid and Derek.
Returning to Maine in 1965, Lee enrolled at the University of Maine Orono to continue his education. While working on his degree, he and Heidi ran a restaurant, a boat rental business in Manset, as well as owning an apartment building. Lee graduated in 1970, with a BBA and then took a job as a teaching principal at an elementary school in Lamoine, Maine.
In 1972, Lee and Heidi established Lee S. Wilbur Co./Wilbur Yachts, as a single bay boat shop. In 1975, the boat yard moved up the road and began an expansion which grew to include four larger buildings and employing 70 individuals who helped to create over 200 semicustom yachts ranging from 28’ to 70’. Yachts were built for Woods Hole Oceanographic, the Smithsonian, for lobstermen and sport fishermen, for day trippers, the odd piano man, and cruisers all over the globe. The company’s philosophy was “Maine tradition meets modern technology on Wilbur Yachts.”
On April 17, 1992, Lee married his second wife, Arletta A. Johnston (Wilbur) of Fort Fairfield, Maine. During the following year of 1993 the “Newport Wilbur Rendezvous” was held on Narragansett Bay, which included 81 people and 18 Wilbur-built lobster boats on parade, a moment for Lee that was one of the most exciting of his career. In 1995, Lee started his tenure on the board of directors for Bar Harbor Savings & Loan, lasting until 2005.
Spending summers on Long Pond, Lee and Arletta enjoyed swimming, fishing, hiking, and taking in the sunsets. On weekends, they traveled north into Canada spending time on Campobello Island. In wintertime, they loved skiing Squaw Mountain and restoring an old mill house in Greenville, Maine. After a trip to St. Tropez, Grenada, Lee decided to make traveling and adventure a full-time pursuit.
In 2001, Wilbur Yachts was sold to his daughter and son-in-law, Ingrid and John Kachmar. He then retired soon after in 2003. Together, Lee and Arletta visited 22 states, toured France, Canada, chartered a cruiser in St. Thomas and explored the Caribbean. Lee later restored a 40’ Duffy, and in October, they set out from Maine and arrived for New Year’s Eve in Key West. Spending the remaining winter on board, they chose Englewood, Fla., as their next home port.
Lee was a jack-of-all-trades, a collector of many things, loved beachcombing and creating art with what he found. Dividing their time between Florida and Maine, Lee worked as a freelance writer with articles for Maine Boats & Harbors and others, ultimately finding a steady column in Fisherman’s Voice where every piece included with it a favorite recipe discovered along the way. He had an easy way with others and in the weeks before his passing summed it all up with, “I’ve had a great life.”
In addition to his wife, Arletta A. Wilbur, he is survived by his daughter Ingrid H. Kachmar and son-in-law John E. Kachmar of Southwest Harbor, son Derek F.L. Wilbur and daughter-in-law Sarah S. Oneil of Bass Harbor, stepson Jason F. Pirie of Ellsworth. Lee is also survived by three grandchildren and three step-grandchildren including Spencer and Sydney Kachmar of SWH; Logan Wilbur of Bass Harbor, Brooke Pirie of Ellsworth; Hallie and Madison Pirie of Smith Falls, Ontario; and one great-grandchild Roxanne Lasalle of Smith Falls, Ontario.
Family and friends are invited to join a celebration of life held at the Causeway Club Red Barn on July 26, 2025, from 2-4 p.m.
Sarah Weston
Blue Hill and Northeast Harbor
Sarah Carter Weston, 85, our mother and friend died peacefully in the early morning hours of June 11, 2025, in Bangor. The previous day her four children were by her side. She was born May 18, 1940, in Concord, NC the daughter Joel A. and Juanita G. (Ingram) Weston.
Sarah grew up in Winston-Salem, NC and attended local schools. In 1961 she married John Walls, and they moved to Unity, Maine, where he began his teaching career. Three and half years later they moved to Northeast Harbor and continued to grow their family. Sarah worked various jobs in her life including the insurance and restaurant industries. She completed her working career as a licensed massage therapist. She enjoyed family and friendships and was a warm and generous woman.
Sarah also enjoyed watching the Boston Red Sox and UMaine Baseball. She was also a fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels and of Wake Forest University. She enjoyed animals, especially cats and dogs.
Sarah is survived by her children Jack, Therese and Weston Walls, and Carter Walls and wife Sarah; bother Tom Weston and wife Lynn; sister-in-law Claudette Weston; former husband John Walls and wife Penny; cousin Kaye McElveen; special friends Mary Ciambrone, June Atherton, Lara Moore, Martha Ohrenberger, Kevin Piper, Sara Young and her furry friend Lola. She was predeceased by her parents, brother Joe and special friend Marcia MacKinnon.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Those who desire may make contributions in Sarah’s memory to Gentiva, Residents Fund, 238 State Street. Ste. 16, Brewer, ME 04412.