Obituary of Bodine J. Ames

Ferry Boats Leave, Bikes Rust. Don’t Come After Us; We’re Where We Want To Be. ~Ruth Fox Bodine Jane MacDonald Ames, born in Rockland, Maine on January 28, 1935, daughter of Helen Victoria Reed and Argyle Augustus MacDonald passed away on January 23, 2019 at the Sussman House in Rockport, Maine. She was pre-deceased by her brother James and two nephews, Johnny and James, Jr. Bodine is survived by her siblings, Ruth Adams and Peter MacDonald and by daughters Jacqelyn Ames, Carolyn Ames and son Lavon Ames III, by sisters in law Sheila and Bonnie MacDonald, by grandchildren Christina Barth, Randy Pitts, Dillon, Hannah and Hunter Ames and great grandchildren Jackson and Savannah Barth, Eleanor Bodine and Charlie Rose Pitts, and by Kensie Josephine Ames and many nieces and nephews. Bodine gave of that which she had in abundance—love—love for her island community of Vinalhaven, love for all of us who shared this special place with her and a legendary generosity in dispensing that love and anything else she had that she could offer to help others. And Bodine was gleefully mischievous woman. Right up until the end she would be found sneaking across the lawn in knee deep snow to hang a stuffed toy bird in a neighbor’s feeder. In 1994 WLBZ-TV presented Bodine with the Jefferson Award, given annually to honor the highest ideals and achievement in the field of public service and for which, in recognition of decades of devoted work, her fellow islanders had enthusiastically nominated her. In 1996 the Mid-Coast Human Resources Council recognized Bodine for spending so much of her own time simply doing everything she could to make Vinalhaven a better place in which to live and grow. In 2000 the Nature Conservancy acknowledged Bodine’s years long devotion to keeping its Lanes Island Preserve pristine and inviting for all to enjoy. In 2012 the Town of Vinalhaven dedicated a just restored architectural artifact, the Old Engine House, to Bodine in recognition of her determination to save this important historic landmark. Bodine asked that there be no Memorial Service, perhaps because it would take so long to heard from everyone who loved her. Contribution in Bo’s memory may be given to the Town of Vinalhaven Park Commission.