Carl Ambrose

Carl Ellis Ambrose, 89, of Veazie, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family, July 25, 2015, after a brief illness. He was born October 20, 1925 in Orono, the son of Richard F. and Olive (Ellis) Ambrose.
Carl graduated early from Orono High School in January, 1944, to enlist in the US Army during World War II. He achieved the rank of Corporal in Company B of the 29th Infantry Regiment 7, and was honorably discharged in October, 1946.
In 1952, Carl went to work for Nickerson & O’Day Contractors as a Superintendent of Building Construction, working for them until retirement in 1988. Carl oversaw the construction or renovation of numerous buildings in the area including: Jenness Hall, Fernald Hall, Aubert Hall, Nutting Hall, Fogler Library, the Newman Center, and Theta Chi Fraternity, all at the University of Maine, Orono; Merchants Plaza; the YMCA; Bangor Civic Center; and the Church of Latter Day Saints in Bangor; amongst many others.
In 1958, Carl married Ida Beaulieu of Calais, his former nurse at Eastern Maine General Hospital. They settled in Veazie where they lived the rest of their lives. Carl was a long time communicant of St. John’s Catholic Church in Bangor. He was a lifetime member of the Veazie Salmon Club and took seven trips to Alaska with some of his fishing buddies to catch salmon on the Kenai River. He tied many of his own flies and also enjoyed trout fishing on small brooks around Maine. Tom Hennesey of the Bangor Daily News wrote in May of 1990:
“At daybreak last Tuesday, Ed Taylor and Carl Ambrose were giving the Penobscot’s Beach Pool a whipping. They hadn’t gotten so much as a whimper from the water, that is until Carl tossed a fly of his own design into the slick flow. It drifted only a few feet before a bulging swirl appeared on the surface.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” said Ed. “I never saw a finned critter that big.” During the next rod-bending, reel-buzzing half hour, the salmon put on a performance that neither of the fishermen will forget.
The morning wasn’t six hours old when the salmon, which was estimated to weigh more than 20 pounds, was landed in a deadwater below Beach Pool. Thanks to Carl Ambrose, that heavyweight brawler is still occupying a pool somewhere below Veazie Dam. It swam away after being released.
“What a fish!” said Ed Taylor.
Carl was an avid gardener, specializing in cucumbers and tomatoes. One of his favorite year-round hobbies was feeding the birds and a select few squirrels. He was a very talented woodworker, especially liking to work with Birds Eye Maple, and being equally good at either refinishing or designing and building. Oh yes, there’s also sports: watching Notre Dame and Patriot football, NY Yankee baseball and just about any boxing match.
Carl is survived by his daughter, Catherine Knudsen and husband, Dennis of Naples; his son, Shawn Ambrose of Veazie; daughter, Suzanne Ambrose and husband, Glenn Thomas of Orono; grandsons, Dylan Thomas of Bangor and Keegan Thomas of Orono; nephews, Richard of Glenburn and Mike of Orono; his sister-in-law, Phyllis Ambrose of Turner; and his special little fella, Richie. He was predeceased by his wife of 27 years, Ida (Beaulieu) Ambrose; his brothers George F. Ambrose and Edwin F. Ambrose, and his wife, Mary; niece Theresa (Ambrose) Bowen; and nephews, Carl Ambrose and John Ambrose. The family would like to extend their thanks to Hospice of Eastern Maine for their care.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.Memorial-Alternatives.com.
Fisherman’s Prayer
I pray that I may fish
Until my dying day
And when it comes time
For my last cast,
I then must humbly pray,
When in the Lord’s great
Landing net I’m peacefully
Asleep
That in his mercy I
Be judged
“Big enough to keep”
Tight lines, Dad.