TENANTS HARBOR — Jeffrey Robert Falla, was born in Rockland, on April 6, 1953 to Richard and Phyllis Falla of Tenants Harbor. He grew up in a modest home, full of guidance, love, and safety. Richard was a fisherman, lobsterman, and most any other trade that dealt with the water. Phyllis was an elementary school teacher. A very intelligent, kind, and diligent mother. These two examples showed Jeff and his brothers John and David how to be good men, good community members, great fathers, and wonderful husbands. They grew up with small means as most did in the 50’s and 60’s. But they never went without, my dad remarking years later how they always had Prell!

Jeff graduated from Georges Valley High school in 1971. He continued to SMVTI where he earned his associate’s degree in water treatment in 1972. Later he found employment at the Thomaston treatment plant, which he ran for many years. The summer of 1975 he was set up on a blind date with a girl from uptown. Having been lured down the peninsula for the first time, Leatrice quickly fell in love with Jeff and his family. A trend that continued with his brother John marrying Leatrice’s sister Lorraine. Jeff and Leatrice got married on April 24, 1976. They built a house on Long Cove soon after, where they lived the entirety of their almost 49 years of marriage. Their first son Matt was born in ’78, and Ben came not long after that in ’79. Ben being the far more handsome of the two.

Jeff went to work for owner and friend David Albano at the newly formed Bay Lobster in 1985. This is where his sons would grow up watching their father show them what hard work was. Jeff became the manager of the same wharf when Linda Bean bought Bay Lobster in 2006. He continued to run the wharf, where his two sons worked alongside, until his retirement in 2013.

Without complaint, working very long hours almost every day, he still found time to volunteer and run the newly formed Recreation Department in St George, and serve as Den leader for cub scouts. He coached every sport while his sons grew. Soccer, basketball, and baseball. He also attended what seemed like every one of his sons games all the way through school. Traveling across the state to make sure his sons knew how loved and supported they were, was a common theme in his family.

Jeff enjoyed traveling as well. Whether it was driving to P.E.I. to camp with Aunt Raine and Uncle John and family in a two-door Ford Escort, or to Gettysburg, D.C., Jamestown, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Williamsburg, Florida, Las Vegas, London, Guernsey, and many other places, Jeff always had it all researched and planned to a T!

Jeff was a wonderful father, husband and role model, for not just his sons but a lot of the community while coaching many boys from St George. He said to me once, “the way you live forever is through the good deeds and positive affect you have on your friends and family, if you do this, you will live on forever.” Words that struck me and have tried to adhere to. He also used to say, “the way to win Christmas is to give a gift that makes someone cry.” He had a lot of sayings and wise words for his sons, along with his sense of humor, which always made for interesting conversations. He was a proud man, a good man, a thoughtful man, and he will be missed.

He is survived by and will live on through his family by his wife, Leatrice, of 49 happy years; his son Matthew and his wife Christina, and their children Asa and Penelope; his son Ben and his wife Meaghan, and their son Ivan. All proudly of St George.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 11 a.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A reception with seafood chowder, per Jeff’s request, will follow immediately at Mulligans, located at the Rockland Golf Club, Old County Road. Food for kids will be provided as well.

To share a memory or condolence with the Falla family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.