TENANTS HARBOR — William F. Iliffe Sr. 75, was reunited in heaven with his beloved wife of 44 years, Martha-Gayle Iliffe, Feb. 5, 2014, after a period of declining health.

Born in Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 23, 1938, Bill was the son of the late George Iliffe and Marjorie Kulis. As a young man he spent his summers in Tenants Harbor with his beloved grandparents. The locals all knew Bill as the Romkey boy. He attended school in both Belmont, Mass., and St. George, Maine.

After completing high school he enlisted in the U. S. Navy. Bill was stationed in Virginia Beach, Va., where he met the love of his life, Martha-Gayle Iliffe. They married Feb. 27, 1958, and moved to Tolland, Conn.

In 1959 Bill began working at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, where he was instrumental in developing fuel cells for the space craft, Apollo. While living in Connecticut he obtained a degree in science and math from the University of Connecticut.

Because of his love for Tenants Harbor, each weekend Bill, Martha and their two children, Bill Jr. and Alice-Gayle, traveled to Maine. In 1973 he packed his wife and children up and moved permanently to Tenants Harbor.

For most of Bill's life he was a lobster fisherman. In 1992 he ran for selectman and won a seat. Bill has also served as the local plumbing inspector and the harbormaster, and served on both the Harbor and Charter committees. Bill was a former lieutenant on the St. George Fire Department and was instrumental in starting up the Memorial Day Parade. He took part in the Soap Box Derby, and helped create the planter and the “Welcome –II Tenants Harbor” sign. Bill continued to work as a lobsterman until the sudden illness of his wife, just two years ago. Putting aside lobstering, he became the personal care provider for her.

He is survived by his children and their families; his son, William F. Iliffe Jr., and his wife, Nancy, and their children, Austin and Nathan, all of Tenants Harbor; and his daughter, Alice-Gayle I. Smith and her husband, Larry, and their son, Brandon, all of St. George.

The family would like to thank a special lady, Cheryl Willis of Rockland, for her loving care of both Martha and Bill.

The Iliffe family has chosen to remember Bill's life privately. Memorial donations can be made to the St. George Fire and Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 249, Tenants Harbor, ME 04860.

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