MONHEGAN — A beloved father, son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend was lost on October 4, 2018. Ben Neilson Murdock, 35, left us unexpectedly and all too soon.

Ben was born on a beautiful spring day, June 9, 1983 and was loved immediately by his whole family. He had a kind, gentle and sensitive soul and made friends easily.

The love of his life was his daughter, Arielle. His second love was lobstering; he would often joke that seawater ran in his veins. At the age of 10, Ben began lobstering aboard his own boat, Winnie’s Worry, hauling 40 traps by hand before school. He loved hiking, snowboarding, Boston sports, and everything baseball.

Everyone that knew Ben well, knew how much he loved his family and Monhegan. He was a special person to so many and will be deeply missed.

Ben attended Monhegan School until the 8th grade and later Gould Academy in Bethel. With the pull of the ocean too strong he moved back to Monhegan to do what he loved and was born to do. He worked hard as a fisherman and even harder as a single father.

In later years Ben struggled with debilitating health issues and the crippling struggle of addiction.

He will be forever missed by his daughter, Arielle, his mother and father, Winnie and John Murdock of Monhegan; his sister, Kristina Mitchell; his brothers, Kyle Murdock and Darrell Patterson; his nieces and nephew, Ava, Isla and Finn Mitchell; as well as his heartbroken extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, his special friend, Hannah, and many other dear friends.

There will be a Candlelight Vigil at Marshall Point Light in Port Clyde on Saturday, Oct 13. at 7:00 p.m. followed by a gathering of family and friends at the Harpoon.

A service on Monhegan will be announced later this fall.  

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchinson Funeral Home. To share a memory or condolence with the Murdock family visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Arielle Hope Murdock College Fund, c/o Camden National Bank, P.O. Box 880, Rockland, Maine 04841.