BATH – Skip Stinson, known to a few as Carl, hung up his fishing rods and firearms for the last time on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Bath. He crafted his own obituary as a memory for his 50th reunion at Colby College in 2013:
ELEGY FOR 72 YEARS
Grew up in the “cradle of ships”
Where my father pounded steel
Colby taught me how to see the world
My father taught me how to survive in it
Peace Corps in Africa made me a Patriot
Law school: learned “truth and justice” never sleep
Unless it’s drinking beer
Fought for the poor
Ran with the rich
Found the former more fun
I’m a country lawyer
Loved what I did
Spent what I earned
Still married to my first wife
She’ll sit by His side
Kids exceeded our expectations
Blessed us with 3 grandchildren – certainly to be Rhodes Scholars
Made many lists for the bucket
Was pretty much full
When I come to kick it
Won’t be much to spill
Skip was the first in his family to go to college and was always immensely grateful for the scholarship aid he received. He obtained his J.D. from the Boston University School of Law in 1968 after a two-year hitch in Cameroon in the Peace Corps. His love affair with Africa never ended.
He was born in Bath in June 1941 to Paul and Louise Stinson. He seized the opportunity to practice law in Bath in 1968 and practiced there until 2015. And he died in Bath at HillHouse, whose founders were his clients.
Skip is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lucy Eliott Bygrave, their daughter Lucy E. Tshuka (Stephen), their son Paul W. Stinson (Heather), sister Pauly Ann Clark, niece Maryjane Clark Warren (Bob), and grandchildren Lindy and Margo Tshuka and Quinn Stinson, and a number of cousins and in-laws.
Skip loved anything that involved being outdoors, especially woods and water. He was forever curious, interested in people and new ideas, fun and funny, thoughtful and kind, which endeared him to the staff and residents of HillHouse.
There will be a celebration of his life in the spring.
If you would like to make a contribution in his memory to CHANS Home Health & Hospice (MaineHealth) or the HillHouse (memo: Skip Stinson) the family would be grateful. The wonderful people of those organizations made this journey easier with their kind and gentle ministrations to him and to us.
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