Obituary of Peter Ebeling

BROOKSVILLE — Peter Ebeling died at home at Bucks Harbor in Brooksville on July 10, 2015, of prostate cancer. He was born on Nov. 28, 1931, on Long Island, N.Y., but moved to Los Angeles, Calif., when still in grade school. Peter and Ann, his beloved wife of 60 years, met when they both were under a tent in California, applying for security clearances to work at the McDonnell Douglas aircraft company. After working at McDonnell Douglas for a while, Peter set up his own advertising company. But he had many other interests, including painting, science and history. Peter and Ann were avid sailors. Members of the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, they raced all over the United States and Mexico. Their lives were changed in the 1970s when they came to Brooksville and Bucks Harbor to visit one summer. Enchanted, they bought a wonderful old home in the village and renovated it to become the Bucks Harbor Inn. When the renovation was complete in 1981, Peter and Ann left their California careers behind. Peter’s good-natured wit and wry grin welcomed visitors from around the world who came back year after year. At least 50 families — owners of summer homes and year-round residents — came first to Brooksville as guests at the Bucks Harbor Inn and, owing to the warm welcome and all-encompassing embrace they received from Peter and Ann, stayed to become devoted Mainers. He served on the Brooksville Planning Board and was waterfront chairman at the Bucks Harbor Yacht Club, sailing his much loved Ma Jolie until he could no longer row to his mooring. He is perhaps best remembered as the coach of the Brooksville Elementary School Chess Club who led his students to three state championships and national competitions, a remarkable achievement for a small rural school. After Peter and Ann closed the inn in 2000, they started to travel in earnest, from the Australian outback to barge cruising in France and sailing in the Greek Isles. A shrewd observer of the national political scene, Peter was a passionate Democrat, using his razor sharp wit to skewer his political opponents without fear or favor. He could on occasion be found standing at the bar in the inn that he and Ann ran, introducing himself with a grin as the chairman of the informal Brooksville Democratic Party. On his next to last day, Peter was cracking jokes and sharing his wry smile. When his eyes had closed for the last time, one of his friends wrote to members of Peter’s California yacht club, “The Commodore has gone.” Per his desire, there will be no service. Peter’s survivors include Ann and his brother Jon. Ann will be forever grateful to the many friends who helped her through these difficult months and to Hancock County Hospice for their tender loving care.