1939 – 2014

ROCKPORT — Daniel “Dan” N. Sanborn, 74, of Waldoboro, died Saturday, Jan. 25, at Pen Bay Medical Center.

He was born in Mayward, Calif., on Nov. 22, 1939, a son of Herbert and Marion Sanborn. He was married to Verleigh J. Miller on Sept. 14, 1960. Dan was a 1958 graduate of Thomaston High School and earned an engineering degree from The Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Dan and Verleigh moved to Vinalhaven in 1962, where they raised their three sons: Dwayne, Derald “Dewey” and Dwight “Ike.” Dan made his living from the ocean. Through the years, he dug clams, went haking, hand lining, gillnetting, dragging, lobstering, scalloping and shrimping. Dan worked on the O’Hara boats out of Rockland, various draggers out of Portland and Boothbay, and also fished commercially out of Washington state and Alaska.

During the 1970s, Dan had his own boat, “The Verleigh J.” Dan was a great “twine man,” a trade he learned while repairing nets offshore. He was a “good man” on the water and had a work ethic second to none.

In 1985, Dan and Verleigh moved back to the mainland and lived in Hope for several years, before moving to Waldoboro. After Dan retired from commercial fishing, he studied for and passed his 100-ton engineer’s license. He then embarked on another career, working on tugboats in New York and on the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast and throughout the Caribbean. Throughout this 12-year period, Dan also studied for and passed his 200-ton engineer’s and first mate’s licenses.

Dan was extremely intelligent, handy and curious about how things worked. He could fix anything with some twine and duct tape. Dan had an adventurous spirit and never shied away from a challenge. He and Verleigh once took a fishing boat from Alabama, through the Panama Canal, all the way to Alaska. He and Verleigh had a great garden each year and he took a lot of pride in the vegetables they harvested.

Dan was a private and strong man, who did not burden others with his troubles. Dan enjoyed the outdoors, and spent as much time as possible deer hunting and enjoying the hunting camp. He loved to stoke the wood stove and listen to and tell stories around the table. Dan loved his family and would do anything for them.

He is survived by Verleigh, his wife of 53 years; three sons, Dwayne and wife, Candy, of Auburn, Dewey and wife, Stephanie, of Vinalhaven and Ike and wife, Karen, of Standish; his parents, Herbert and Marion of Thomaston; a brother, David and his wife, Joan, of Thomaston; a sister, Linda and her daughter, Melissa, of Thomaston; a brother, Douglas, of Orono; his grandchildren, Garrett, Shannon, Danika, Dalton and Skyler; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by a brother, Donald.

A special thanks to the doctors, nurses, hospice workers and staff at Pen Bay Medical Center, who were extremely professional and supportive during Dan’s last days in the Gagnon hospice suite of the hospital.

You can share condolences with the family by visiting www.hallfuneralhomes.com.