SPRUCE HEAD — John Tripp, 83, passed away suddenly on April 30, 2016, on a beautiful spring Criehaven day after a morning of lobstering with his daughter, Janet. John cherished family, fishing and being on the water around Criehaven, and it is fitting that he passed on in that way.

John was born Aug. 6, 1932, to Harold and Esther Tripp. He grew up in Newton, Mass., and attended Newton High School, where he excelled in football and track. After graduation, he attended the University of Maine, Orono, for a year and majored in football. John then joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served during the Korean War. Upon completion of his service, he came to Midcoast Maine, where he had summered and developed a love for the Maine coast. John began lobster fishing, raised a family and made many good friends.

John's life took a fortuitous turn when, after his first marriage had ended, he reached out to his high school sweetheart, Susan Wayman, who had only recently become divorced herself and was living across the country with her four daughters in Palos Verdes, Calif. John and Sue courted briefly cross-country, and were soon married. This love story would become the foundation of a wonderful life for John, Sue and their family for decades, until his sudden passing last week.

A private and humble man, he was respected and loved by many and he will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his wife and family.

John was predeceased by his son, Tom Tripp of Thomaston. He is survived by his wife, Susan Tripp; his daughter, Cindy Fyfe and her partner, Fritz Johnson, of Dillingham, Alaska, and her daughter, Rhiannon Wiegand and her husband, Shane; his son, Jim Tripp and his wife, Pam, of Spruce Head and their children, Kate Walsh and her husband, Francis, Krista Tripp, John Tripp and his wife, Mallary, and Emily Tripp; his daughter, Janet Tripp Hocking and her husband, Bryan, of Thomaston; his son, Michael Tripp of South Thomaston and his children, Erin Baudanza and her husband, Barry, Alexis Moores and her husband, Mickey; and his son, Derrick Tripp; his grandsons, Michael Tripp of Waldoboro and Ben Tripp of Spruce Head; his stepdaughter, Julie Haskell of Meriden, N.H., and her daughter, Emma; his stepdaughter, Jennifer Harms of Fort Collins, Colo., and her children, Carly and Kyle; his stepdaughter, Jill Lewis and her husband, Todd, of Walpole, Mass., and their children, Andy and Estee; and his stepdaughter, Jane Bell and her husband, Alan, of Gorham, and their children, Connor and Austin. He is also survived by his adored great-grandchildren, Hannah, Tanner, Conner, Anna, Oliver, Clifford, Elsie, Ambrose, Everly, Lilly, Landen and Ophelia.

Family and friends are invited to visit Friday, May 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Criehaven Emergency Services Fund, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, 245 Camden Street, Rockland, ME 04841