In Memoriam

Many lighthouse personnel crossed the bar due to natural causes of sickness or age. However, some lighthouse personnel gave their lives for their country and service due to accidents, drownings, and even murder. Listed below is a Memorial to these courageous members of the Lighthouse Service who lost their lives during their service and the time and manner in which their passing occurred. The Society will be adding to this list as other personnel are found who gave their lives in such a manner.
FIRST NAME LAST NAME TITLE LIGHTHOUSE DATE ACTION
Walter Abbott Seaman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Michael Agnew Electricians Mate Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Thayer J. Allen Keeper Point Arguello November 30, 1941 Electric Shock
Nathaniel Alley Keeper Lubec Channel ME March 7, 1934 Died from Coal Stove Fumes
John Andersen Keeper Kanahena HI October 1910 Fell off Cliff
Joseph Andreu Keeper Saint Augustine FL January  1860 Fell from Lighthouse
Joseph Antoine Keeper Minots Ledge MA April 17, 1851 Drowned
Joshua Appleby Keeper Sand Key FL October 1846 Killed in Hurricane
Bernard A. Ashley Assistant Keeper Ano Nuevo CA April 9, 1883 Drowned
Donald Ashley Jr. USCG Detour Reef MI March 30, 1971 Drowned
Orville Babcock Chief Engineer 5th and 6th Districts June 2, 1884 Drowned
Richard T. Barry Assistant Keeper Sanibel FL June 22. 1919 Murdered
Henry W. Baum Assistant Keeper Ano Nuevo CA April 9, 1883 Drowned
Felix Bearman Crewman Tender Manzanita March 22, 1916 Drowned
Andrew Bourissau Keeper Skillagalee MI October 19, 1901 Drowned
Charles Bowen Keeper Half Moon Shoal TX September 8, 1900 Killed in Hurricane
Samuel Brown Jr. Chief Warrant Officer Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Isaac Bridges Keeper Granite Island MI 1872 Drowned
Chester Brinkworth Assistant Keeper Crabtree Ledge ME October 3, 1916 Drowned
Leon Brinkworth Temporary assistant Crabtree Ledge ME October 3, 1916 Drowned
John Burgess Assistant Keeper Faulkner’s Island CT October 25, 1898 Drowned
Charles Butler Engineer LV-082 November 10, 1913 Drowned
Frank Campisano Seaman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Vangel Constantine Seaman LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Thomas Carroll Assistant Keeper Race Rocks NY January 14, 1886 Drowned
Aaron Carter Assistant Keeper Cape Florida FL  July 23, 1836 Black Keeper Killed in Indian attack
Maurice Cason Fireman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Edwin Clements Assistant Keeper Smith Island WA 14608 Drowned
Henry W. Colburn Keeper Ano Nuevo CA April 9, 1883 Drowned
Charles T. Collins Engineman Anacapa Island CA 18706 Drowned
Jack Colvin Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK 16893 Killed in tsunami
John Cooper Jr. Quartermaster Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Forrest Cowan Assistant Keeper Cape Flattery WA February 18, 1911 Drowned
William Crockett Assistant Keeper Tangier Sound VA February 11, 1914 Drowned
John Currie Assistant Keeper Eldred Rock AK March 26, 1910 Drowned
Clinton Dalzell Assistant Keeper Egg Rock ME February 1935 Drowned
Roger W. Duke OIC Anacapa Island CA March 19, 1951 Drowned
John A. Dunbar Machinist Tender Amaranth December 18, 1912 Killed in Buoy Gas Explosion
Richard Duncan Seaman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Dewey Dykstra Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK 16893 Killed in tsunami
Walter Eberle Assistant Keeper Whale Rock RI 14144 Killed in hurricane
William L. Emerson Assistant Keeper Sand Island AL 6957 Drowned by Car-Ferry
John Enquist Keeper Destruction Island WA 4237 Hit in head by derrick
John Fortes Seaman LV-117 12570 Drowned
Richard B. Fredey Assistant Keeper Boston MA 19319 Drowned
Larry Fregia Seaman Apprentice Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
S. R. Fullerton Keeper Round Island MS November 1, 1911 Drowned
George Genery Keeper Grand Island MI June 1908 Disappeared
Ernest George Seaman LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
Roy Gill  2nd Assistant Keeper Split Rock MN October 2, 1910 Drowned
Joseph Gordon Seaman LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Walter Grobben 2nd Assistant Keeper Skillagalee MI October 19, 1901 Drowned
Robert Gullickson Seaman LV-103 May 7, 1958 Drowned
Mills  Gunderson Keeper Stage Harbor MA 1918 Suicide
Ramon Gutierrez Seaman Apprentice Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Jack Hammett Seaman LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Andrew Hansen Assistant Keeper Sand Island AL 1906 Drowned in Hurricane
Hans Hanson Seaman LV-AA June 10, 1827 Drowned
Thomas Harrison Keeper West Rigglets LA Nov 1862 Killed on duty during Civil War
Richard Higgins Keeper Winter Harbor ME November 2, 1868 Drowned
Samuel Holbrook Assistant Keeper Libby Island  ME 6742 Drowned
Robert R. Horton USCG Anacapa Island CA August 20, 1969 Fell off Cliff
Allen Hull Seaman LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Eugene Ingalls Keeper Petit Manan ME 6208 Drowned
Roger Jacks Seaman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Karl A. Jackson Keeper Oswego NY December 4, 1942 Drowned
William Jakicic Seaman LV-111 February 21,1955 Drowned
William Jensen Seaman LV-082 November 10, 1913 Drowned
Julius Johanson Assistant Keeper Rose Island RI February 1917 Drowned
A. J. Johnson Keeper Volusia Bar FL 1938 Murdered
Frank Johnson Machinest LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
Cyril J. Jones Assistant Keeper Spectacle Reef MI 1959 Drowned
Albert Joost Keeper Southampton Shoal CA December 25, 1945 Died in Fire
Frederick Jordan Keeper Penfield Reef CT December 22, 1916 Drowned
Arthur Joy Seaman LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
Henry Joy Mate LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
John Klosky Machinists Mate LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
K. Knutsen Seaman Tender Poinsettia December 27, 1928 Killed in explosion and fire
Charles Layton Keeper Point Pinos CA 1855 Shot
Andrew Leahy Mate LV-082 November 10, 1913 Drowned
Cornelius Leahy Assistant Engineer LV-082 November 10, 1913 Drowned
George Lehman Assistant Keeper Parris Island SC June 13, 1903 Fell from Scaffolding
Raymond Linton Keeper Cape San Blas FL April 15, 1905 Suicide
Henry Long Keeper Cape Fear NC October 16,  1806 Accidentally Shot
Steven Lundquist Seaman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Peter Mackey Cook LV-082 November 10, 1913 Drowned
Cornelius Maher Assistant Keeper Cockspur Island GA 1853 Drowned
Ernest W. Marler Assistant Keeper Cape San Blas FL March 16, 1938 Murdered
James C. Marshall Assistant Keeper Spectacle Reef MI April 15, 1883 Drowned
William A. Maxwell USCG Stannard Rock MI 22450 Killed in explosion and fire
Joseph McCabe Keeper Deer Island MA 5894 Drowned
Charles J. McDougal District Inspector Punta Gorda CA 3352 Drowned
John McHarry Keeper Mission Point Old MI August 1, 1881 Drowned
John McKenna Keeper Lime Point CA December 22, 1902 Drowned
Chandler  McNeil Assistant Keeper Colcheter Reef VT May 21, 1879 Drowned
Peter Michalak Seaman LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Alfredo Monteiro Cook LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
Joseph Morin Yeoman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Charles Morrison Commissaryman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Edward Morrison Assistant Keeper Grand Island MI June 1908 Murdered
John Mortimer Seaman Apprentice LV-101 May 18,1955 Drowned
George Murdock Keeper Roundout Creek NY 1857 Drowned
Paul Ness Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK April 1, 1946 Killed in tsunami
Marnal Newman Assistant Keeper Saddleback Ledge ME 1908 Drowned
Nils Nilson Assistant Keeper Southwest Ledge CT January ? 1908 Suicide
Louis Norvell Keeper Head of Passes LA 1891 Drowned
Walton O’Quinn Jr. Engineman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Frederick Osborne Keeper Saint Simons Island GA March 3, 1880 Shot and killed by Assistant Keeper
Frank H. Parsons Assistant Keeper Eastern Point MA 8287 Fell from Tower while painting it
Leonard Peckering Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK 16893 Killed in tsunami
William Perry Engineer LV-117 12570 Drowned
Anthony Pettit Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK 16893 Killed in tsunami
Carmalite Philbert Keeper Choctaw Point AL 1852 Died in Fire
E. Phillips Seaman LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
James Pine Jr. Assistant Keeper Jupiter Inlet FL February 22, 1921 Murdered
Isaac Pinna First Cook LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
William Raether Keeper Waukegan IL December 18, 1907 Drowned
Ole Anton Rasmussen 2nd Assistant Keeper Cape Flattery WA September 18, 1934 Drowned
Robert Ray Keeper Bergen Point NJ February 15, 1902 Drowned
Henry Ray Jr. Assistant Keeper Mount Desert Rock ME May 12, 1920 Drowned
Charles Respess Keeper Windmill Point VA March 5, 1915 Drowned
John M. Reynolds Keeper Sand Island AL January 17, 1919 Drowned
Justin Richmond Oiler LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
Matthew Rodriques Seaman LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
John Rollinson Engineman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Alexander Rose Keeper Stony Point NY 1856 Accident ruptured a blood vessel
William Rose Cook LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
Jerold Sanger Keeper Bullet’s Bayou MS March 6, 1895 Murdered
Robert Saunders Temporary Keeper Boston MA November 14, 1718 Drowned
Herbert Scott Keeper Mary Island AK January 1, 1921 Died in Storm
J. Edgar Sevvigny Captain LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Edward Sexton Assistant Keeper Split Rock MN October 2, 1910 Drowned
James Shaw Keeper West Point WA 5086 Drowned
King Sheridan Assistant Keeper Frankfort Pierhead MI August 1902 Drowned by Car-Ferry
Aaron Sheridan Keeper South Manitou Island MI March 15, 1878 Drowned
Julia Sheridan Assistant Keeper South Manitou Island MI March 15, 1878 Drowned
Peter Shook Keeper Port Sanilac MI March 31, 1849 Drowned
John Silander Assistant Keeper Eldred Rock AK March 26, 1910 Drowned
Charles Smith Mate LV-037 April 22, 1874 Drowned
David D. Spaulding Assistant Keeper Spectacle Reef MI November 10, 1896 Drowned
Lawrence Starratt Machinists Mate LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Edward Steckling Chief Machinists Mate LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Frederick Stelter Watertender LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
John J. Stimac Seaman LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Richard Talbot Cook LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane Drowned
Mary Terry Keeper Sand Point Escanaba MI March 4, 1886 Died in Fire
Donald G. Thorne USCG Anacapa Island CA 17689 Fell from Cargo Net
Alexander Toomey Assistant Keeper Makapu’u Point HI 9232 Died from burns in IOV lamp explosion
Gustavus Umberham Keeper Algoma, MI February 3, 1913 Drowned
Thomas Van Pelt Seaman LV-AA June 10, 1827 Drowned
Clement Van Ripper Keeper Beaver Island Harbor MI Aug 1872 Drowned
William Vitt Chief Engineman Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
H. O. Welch  Keeper Halfmoon Reef TX December 13, 1934 Drowned
John Wellington Assistant Keeper Smith Island WA January 1880 Drowned
John Whalton Captain LV-AA 1837 Killed in Indian Raid
William Wheatley Assistant Keeper Granite Island MI April 30, 1898 Drowned
Frank Willets Cook LV-037 April 22, 1874 Drowned
Hugh Williams Captain LV-082 November 10, 1913 Drowned
Joseph Wilson Keeper Minots Ledge MA April 17, 1851 Drowned
Almon Wixon Seaman LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
Guy Wood Boatswains Mate Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
George Worthylake Keeper Boston MA November 3, 1718 Drowned
George Young Keeper San Bruno CA November 19,  1902 Drowned