ELLSWORTH — No corner of Hancock County was untouched by the loss of loved ones, neighbors and community leaders in 2008.

Eddie Povich

Eddie Povich, the longtime proprietor of Mike’s Country Store and former legislator, died on March 13. He was 60.

On March 30, Casper Sargent, owner of Sargent Real Estate, died after a fall. He was 78.

WERU radio host Tom Salisbury, aka Tommy Dean, died April 13 at age 50 after suffering a heart attack.

These three men and several others who passed away in 2008 added much to the world around them.

Casper Sargent

Povich provided curb service for many of his customers, including the late Viola Sargent. She would pull up to the curb, toot her horn and Povich or another employee would run newspapers out to her.

Povich had served as state representative for the Ellsworth district from 1994 to 2002. One of his proudest achievements was helping with legislation that created The Next Step Domestic Violence Project.

People were most important to Povich.

Tom Salisbury

“I thought he was concerned about his stock, but that wasn’t it at all,” Pierson said. “He wanted to know how it would affect me and all the people who worked at the bank.”

Another to be remembered got his start in the family business.

Tony Giunta

Sargent was active in the community in his younger days and led all of former state Sen. Ruth Foster’s political campaigns.

Many visited Sargent at his High Street office over the years to ask his advice or talk over an issue.

His son Dan recalled, “no matter how busy he was, he always made that person a priority. He never let people feel rushed.”

Sargent reportedly fought old age by taking long daily walks of six or more miles. He was an avid salmon-fisher.

Sally Crowley

Sargent and his good friends Foster and Ellsworth American Publisher Alan Baker had regular dinners together where the standing agreement was that no one would talk about arthritis or otherwise give “an organ recital.” They talked ideas, business and politics.

Tom Salisbury, co-owner of Cottage Street Bakery and Deli in Bar Harbor, combined his passion for helping others and country music into the annual Christmas is for Families charity event. The 2007 event raised over $7,000 and helped 130 families have a merry Christmas.

Sharyn Betts

WERU General Manager Matt Murphy said Salisbury’s love for the music and performers and his knowledge was unsurpassed.

Salisbury was especially proud of a CD he put together in memory of his late sister Carole Salisbury. All of the proceeds from the sale of the CDs were donated to the Special Olympics of Maine.

In May, longtime civil attorney Tony Giunta passed away at age 63. He had been sick with lung cancer for several months.

Giunta served on the Ellsworth Planning Board for several years and had recently done pro bono work for the James Russell Wiggins Down East Family YMCA to help the Y launch its first summer camp on the water.

Raymond Saunders

The fall brought another cluster of losses.

In October, Hancock County Treasurer Sally Crowley died at 69 after a long battle with cancer.

Prior to being elected to the county position, Crowley had worked as town manager in Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor and Machias.

Jerry Kaufman

Crowley and her late husband, Harvey, had operated Cranberry Point Products in Gouldsboro.

Sharyn Betts, who served as a Bucksport town councilor for 16 years, died Oct. 24 after fighting pancreatic cancer.

Betts was credited with helping to transform the appearance of the Penobscot River.

Janwillem Van de Wetering

Former Bail Commissioner and longtime Morrison Chevrolet employee Raymond Saunders passed away on Nov. 6.

Saunders was known for his wit. He reportedly always had a joke to tell before he conducted any business at the Hancock County Jail no matter how early the hour.

Saunders was involved with Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years and served as the community Santa for several years before handing the sack over to his son Donald.

“Kip” Leach

Kaufman devoted his time to area organizations including the James Russell Wiggins Down East Family YMCA, where he served as the annual campaign chairman.

Surry resident and crime writer Janwillem Van de Wetering died in July. He was well known for his detective series “Grijpstra & de Gier,” which was based on his years as a police officer in the Netherlands. He was 77.

“Kip” Leach, who served as a Brooksville selectman for 47 years, died in November after a short illness. He was 75. After Leach passed, a friend said “this town was his baby.”

Tom Morris

The founder of Morris Yachts, Tom Morris, died Dec. 7 in Southwest Harbor. He was 68 and had been sick with cancer.

In 1972, Morris started Morris Yachts, which began production of double-ended Frances 26 sloop, the first boat designed by Camden yacht designer, C.W. Chuck Paine. To this day, Morris Yachts is still building boats to Paine’s designs.

Morris was an avid lifelong sailor. As a boy, he sailed on the A Class sloop that his grandfather acquired in 1913. Five generations sailed the yacht before the family donated it to the Mystic Seaport Museum, where she is now on display.

Fritz Jahoda

Fritz Jahoda, of Concord, Mass., and Brooksville, a distinguished pianist, conductor and teacher, died at his home in Concord.

In 1983, concerned about the future of his extensive personal music collection, Fritz along with his two-piano partner Mary Cheyney Gould and friend Marcia Chapman established the library.

The American lost longtime employee Betty Clark to illness in October. Clark, who retired two years ago, had worked for the paper for 25 years.

Betty Clark

Clark was a sharp observer of nature — human and the outside.

She took countless photos of birds, squirrels and other wildlife that visited her Bayside Road home.

Clark handled the public masterfully, whether by telephone or in office.

She never called on a reporter or editor to speak with a member of the public without gracefully ascertaining the reason for the visit.

With reporting by Stephen Rappaport, Stephen Fay, Jackie Weaver, Cyndi Wood and James Straub.