ELIZABETH REEVE BRIGHT

Elizabeth Reeve Bright died peacefully Wednesday evening, May 25, 2005, in her home in Northeast Harbor. She was 84. Daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Stanley Reeve of Haverford, Pa., and Pretty Marsh, she was predeceased by her husband, Stanley Bright Jr.; a son, Nicholas Bright; and a grandson, Stanley Bright IV. She is survived by a sister, Diana P. Reeve of Newtown Square, Pa.; nine children, Leila R. Bright of Rye, N.Y., Stanley Bright III of Rosemont, Pa., J. Clayton Bright of Coatesville, Pa., J. Reeve Bright of Delray Beach, Fla., James R. Bright of Northeast Harbor, Elfrida B. Keiter of Rose Valley, Pa., Lawrence L. Bright of Floyd, Va., Christine B. Keegan, of West Falmouth, and Jeanette Bright of Los Angeles, Calif.; 20 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Although legally named Elizabeth, she was known as Leila, after a great-aunt. She received her early education at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and graduated from the Westover School in Middlebury, Conn. While attending Bryn Mawr College, Leila met Stanley in the fall of 1941 and left college to marry him. They raised their large family in Rosemont, Pa., during the school year, and on Islesford for the three summer months. In 1976, they became year round residents of Islesford, and later bought a winter home in Northeast Harbor. Stanley died in the fall of 1994 at the age of 84. With the sad difficulties of Alzheimer’s disease overtaking her, Leila gave up her home on Islesford and relocated permanently to Northeast Harbor in 2003. She was skillfully and lovingly cared for by Carol Wright and Wendy Baker. Leila strongly believed in being a contributing member to one’s community. Before moving to Maine, she was on the boards of the Westover School, the Church Farm School in Exton, Pa., and the Ludington Memorial Public Library in Bryn Mawr, Pa. She served several terms on the Planning Commission for the Town of Cranberry Isles, and in Northeast Harbor was appointed to the vestry of St. Mary’s By The Sea. The Natural Resource Council honored her for her commitment to the preservation of the coastal areas she knew and loved so well. Leila’s greatest passion was to be out sailing in “Matka”, her red O’Day Tempest. As a youngster, she had learned to sail from Captain Sim Davis of Bass Harbor. On their 25th wedding anniversary, Stanley surprised her with “Matka”. The deal was that she could choose any color she liked as long as he never had to go sailing. She, as well as he, considered it a good bargain. Weather permitting, Leila, accompanied by a golden retriever and often a friend, sailed every day. Her red sailboat was a familiar sight to fishermen and ferry captains alike. For many years she and Warren Fernald, also of Islesford, were the oldest Old Salts out there, Leila sailing and Warren lobstering. When not sailing, Leila invited friends, children and grandchildren on picnic excursions to explore other islands in her Jarvis Newman lobsterboat, “Old Squaw”. Stanley was heard to remark that there might be some confusion as to whether Old Squaw referred to the duck or the captain. It referred to the duck, and the name was painted in her favorite red. Leila also vastly enjoyed climbing the mountains of Acadia in spring and fall, and cross country skiing on the Park’s trails in winter. Experiencing the beauty of the water, the islands and the mountains in all their moods was of her heart and soul. Leila loved to read. It was her habit at the end of a day to sit with a book and a cup of tea or cocoa. Even in her illness, she was never without a stack of books from the library. Just a few hours before her death she enjoyed “The Owl And The Pussy Cat”. Donations in her memory may be sent to the Islesford Library, Islesford, ME 04646. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 6, at St. Mary’s By The Sea, Shore Road, Northeast Harbor.