Victor (Vic) Grace died peacefully on Monday, April 3, 2017, in his beloved home on the ocean in Cundy’s Harbor, Maine. He lived there for 34 years with his wife Jackie, who had just passed away in January of this year.

Victor Erwin Grace was born on September 18, 1925 and spent most of his childhood in Bath, Maine. Like most young men at that time, he served in World War 11 before going on to further education. He then attended the Workshop School of Advertising and Editorial Art in New York City. He studied Fine Arts under Charles Chapman for four years and then studied Art Conservation at New York University School of Fine Arts under Sigmund Rothschild.

During that time he met Marjorie Jacqueline (Jackie) Hellyar and they were married on November 16, 1949 in Toronto, Canada. For the next 34 years, the couple resided in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Vic worked in the advertising business, and also worked as an art restorer while at home, during his time off. Eventually he decided to devote himself full time to art restoration and opened his studio in Englewood, New Jersey. Although most of his work involved oil paintings, he also restored papers, documents, prints and etchings.

In 1983, Vic and Jackie moved to Cundy’s Harbor, Maine. There Vic resumed his work as an art conservator, building an in-home studio. This later evolved into their business “Grace Galleries” where Vic did his art conservation work and Jackie bought and sold rare and antique maps. Since part of his work involved cleaning valuable oil paintings, Vic loved to joke that he

“was in the dirty picture business”.

Victor Grace was highly respected in his field and was entrusted with valuable works belonging to art galleries and private collections from Maine to New Jersey, the Bath Marine Museum being among those. He was a Fellow member of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, an associate member of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and a member of the American Association of Conservators and Restorers.

His love of art and art conservation was only surpassed by his love of sailing with his friends. He and Jackie would go sailing any chance they got and did a great deal of it around the Maine coast. Vic sailed in the annual Brigham’s Cove Sailboat Races and even sometimes volunteered on the timing boat during those races. All who knew him will sadly miss his wonderful sense of humor and his warm friendly nature.

He is predeceased by his loving wife of 67 years to whom he was totally devoted. He is survived by nieces and nephews.

A memorial “Celebration of Life” will be held for Vic and Jackie this summer. Time and place will be announced at a later date.