Orr’s Island – John “Ted” E. Bear Jr., 66 of Orr’s Island, died Friday, May 29, at his home after a short battle with cancer.

He was born in Brunswick on April 17, 1943, a son of John Edwin and Ruth Eleanor Leeman Bear Sr. He attended schools in Tampa, Fla., and was a graduate of Florida State University.

Ted was a self-employed lobsterman for over 30 years and had also swordfished and dragged out of Portland and Gloucester, Mass.

He was a director of MLA (Maine Lobsterman Association), and was recently awarded the Golden V-Notch Award. He was also a member of Ducks Unlimited.

Ted loved and was devoted to his late wife, Faith (Pingree) Bear, who died in September of 2007. They enjoyed gardening together and he was well-known for his kindness and generosity. He also enjoyed playing poker.

He is survived by his son, Johnathan W. Bear and his wife, Rachel, of Orr’s Island; his daughter, Stacy Morin and her husband, John, of Auburn; his stepson, Dirk Caire of Freeport; a brother, Tim Bear of Union; and five grandchildren, Alec Caire of Portland, Ben and Jack Morin of Auburn and Kayla Merrill and Kristopher Merrill, both of Durham.