SOUTH PORTLAND — Ansel Norton “Tup” Tupper, 81, deeply loved by his family and respected by his friends, died Aug. 9.

He was born in Concord, N.H., on Aug. 26, 1928, to Dorothy Wing Daggett and Harold Fisk Tupper of South Berwick, a situation that led him to playfully claim dual citizenship in Maine and New Hampshire.

After he graduated from Dover High School in 1946, he attended the University of New Hampshire, where he participated in football and track until he graduated in 1950.

On Dec. 30, 1950, he married Mary Virginia Deschenes, beginning their loving marriage of nearly 60 years, and together raised five sons and one daughter.

In 1953 he began his 31-year career with the Maine Central Railroad/Portland Terminal Company as a student supervisor. Over the years, he worked in numerous managerial positions until he retired in 1984 as general manager of operations.

An enthusiastic sailor, he was an active member of the Centerboard Yacht Club for 40 years, and enjoyed competitive racing in Casco Bay.

A man of honor and integrity, he was admired by all who knew him for his patience and kindness.

He was predeceased by his sister, Pamelia Tupper, and an infant daughter, Mary.

He is survived by his wife Virginia; and five sons, Christopher N. and his wife, Helen (Cricket), of Cundy’s Harbor, Stephen H. and his wife, Clara-Marie of Rolla, Mo., Nicholas J. and his wife, Susan, of Marietta, Ga., Nathaniel J. “Nat” and his wife Judith of Yarmouth, and Benjamin T. and his wife, Mariana, of Yarmouth, and his daughter, M. Ellen and her husband Thomas M. Carr of Scituate, Mass.; his sister Nancy H. Otis and her husband, Don B. Otis of Manchester, Vt.; and his beloved 17 grandchildren, Jordan J. Tupper and his wife Amanda of Pleasant View, Tenn., Samuel J. Tupper of Cumberland, Brian C. Tupper of Yarmouth, Alan C. Tupper and his wife Carrie of Atlanta, Ga., Emily J. Tupper of Cundy’s Harbor, Paul A. Tupper, N. Scott Tupper and Zachary J. Tupper of Marietta, Ga., W. Joseph Tupper, M. Tobias Tupper, Jacob N. Tupper, Daniel S. Tupper, and M. Stephanie Tupper of Rolla, Mo., Audrey V. Carr, Thomas T. Carr and Charlotte M. Carr of Scituate, Mass., and Lillian D. Tupper of Yarmouth; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20 at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21 at First Parish Congregational Church, 116 Main St., Yarmouth, immediately followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at hobbsfuneralhome.com.

Memorial gifts may be made to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 200, Falmouth, ME 04105, or to the American Cancer Society, 1-800-227-2345.

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