SOUTH THOMASTON — George “Skip” W. Lambertson Jr., 84, passed away peacefully of natural causes Monday, January 7, 2019.

Born March 19, 1934, George grew up in Port Chester, New York. He was the son of George W. and Noella Ross Galyon Lambertson. Skip married the love of his life, Eileen Ryan in 1963 and they resided together in Greenwich, CT, for 40 years until they moved to Maine where they lived by the ocean for the rest of his days.

Having a great love of the water, in his early life he was a Sea Scout in Greenwich, CT, and graduated from Port Chester High School class of 1952.

Skip joined the Brooksville Engine and Hose Company NO. 5 in Port Chester, NY, in 1953, when he was 19 and remained an active member for over 50 years. Serving as captain in 1964-1965, as president in 1970-1971, and as vice president in 2003, George played a major role in the rich history of Brooksville Engine and Hose Company NO. 5.  

The New York State Assembly which brings full recognition and pays tribute to distinguished individuals who, without reservation devote themselves to the public safety of their community, proclaimed September 23, 2003, George “Skippy” Lambertson Day in the State of New York.  

George served his country at Fort Dix and Fort Eustis in the US Army from 1956-1958, when he received an honorable discharge.

After the Army, Skip worked at Fawcett Publications for 10 years.

Skip served as a career firefighter in Greenwich, Connecticut from 1968 until his retirement in 1985. While he was a firefighter he learned to play the bagpipes and marched with the Police Emerald Society Pipe Band, kilt and all.

Skip was also a 32nd Degree member of both the Valley of the Hudson and the Valley of Albany Masonic Scottish Rite since 1981.

Eventually receiving his Captain’s License to sail up to 100 foot vessels, Skip worked at the Norwalk Maritime Museum in Norwalk, CT, and volunteered at the South Street Seaport where he crewed on the “Tall Ship” The Pioneer, the Hudson River Sloop, Clearwater and The Genevieve, a schooner out of Florida.

A 45 year member of Mystic Seaport, he loved spending time learning and being around boats and ships.

Skip also loved and rode motocross professionally, enjoyed painting, photography and building model boats, fire engines and cars. An avid reader of history and movie buff, he spent many days at Tod’s Point in Greenwich, reading by the waterside. Pirates of the Caribbean was an all-time favorite movie for him, har har har.  

Later in life, Skip became a boat building apprentice at the Rockport Apprentice Shop in Rockport, Maine, where he learned to build wooden boats. He and his wife Eileen built a home in South Thomaston where he spent the rest of his life by his beloved ocean.  

Skip is survived by his wife of 55 years, Eileen Ryan Lambertson, his daughter and son-in-law Linda and David Zielski; grandson Nicholas Zielski; granddaughter Katelyn Zilberberg of Malibu, CA; his sister and brother-in-law Linda and Gary Huffman of Fountain Valley, CA; nieces and nephews, Jason and Deborah Huffman, Joshua and Cami Huffman and Jessica and Jason Cooper; great-nieces and great-nephews, Micah, Danny and Luke Huffman, Oliver and Zoe Huffman, Jack, Henry and Elinore Cooper.

He is also survived by his close cousin Joan Merrill of Greenwich, Connecticut. He is also survived by his extended family, the Ryan’s, the Barto’s and the Gentry’s all from Greenwich.

Skip went through his life with dignity and grace. Sometimes known as the “old grump”,,he always had a great belly laugh, a smile and something positive to say.

A celebration of Skip’s life will be announced soon for some time in the spring.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.  

To share a memory or condolence with Skip’s family, visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.