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
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
Samuel Armour Keeper New Haven Outer Breakwater January 10, 1907 Drowned
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
Raymond F. Bliven Keeper Stamford Harbor CT August 15, 1931 Drowned
Andrew Bourissau Keeper Skillagalee MI October 19, 1901 Drowned
Charles Bowen Keeper Half Moon Shoal TX September 8, 1900 Killed in Hurricane
Calvin Bozman Keeper Hooper Strait MD September 5, 1918 Drowned
George Brennan Keeper Great Beds NJ April 24, 1883 Drowned
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
Cornelius Candy Keeper Timbalier Bay LA February 9, 1898 Murdered
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 December 29, 1939 Drowned
Henry W. Colburn Keeper Ano Nuevo CA April 9, 1883 Drowned
Charles T. Collins Engineman Anacapa Island CA March 19, 1951 Drowned
John Colofen Assistant Keeper Latimer Reef NY January 25, 1932 Drowned
Jack Colvin Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK April 1, 1946 Killed in tsunami
John Cooper Jr. Quartermaster Tender White Alder December 7, 1968 Drowned
Gatha F. Cottee Keeper Hooper Strait MD December 21, 1947 Killed in boat explosion
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 April 1, 1946 Killed in tsunami
Walter Eberle Assistant Keeper Whale Rock RI September 21, 1938 Killed in hurricane
Nathan W. Edson Keeper Turtle Island OH February 1, 1869 Froze to death
William L. Emerson Assistant Keeper Sand Island AL January 17, 1919 Drowned by Car-Ferry
John Enquist Keeper Destruction Island WA August 7, 1911 Hit in head by derrick
John Farley Assistant Keeper Cape Ann MA October 20, 1891 Drowned
Edward Finck Assistant Keeper East Shoal TX September 16, 1875 Killed in hurricane
John Fortes Seaman LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
Richard B. Fredey Assistant Keeper Boston MA November 21, 1952 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
Jacob Hall Assistant Keeper West Shoal TX September 16, 1875 Killed in hurricane
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 November 1862 Killed on duty during Civil War
Reuben A. Hart Keeper Manitou Island MI May 19, 1882 Drowned
John S. Hicks Keeper West Shoal TX September 16, 1875 Killed in hurricane
Richard Higgins Keeper Winter Harbor ME November 2, 1868 Drowned
Samuel Holbrook Assistant Keeper Libby Island  ME June 16, 1918 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 December 29, 1916 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
Charles Johnson Keeper Horn Island MS September 27, 1906 Drowned in Hurricane
Frank Johnson Machinest LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
Kate Johnson Assistant Keeper Horn Island MS September 27, 1906 Drowned in Hurricane
Cyril J. Jones Assistant Keeper Spectacle Reef MI 1959 Drowned
Albert Joost Keeper Southampton Shoal CA December 25, 1935 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
William P. Larson Assistant Keeper Racine Reef WI September 4, 1918 Drowned
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
William T. Lewis Keeper South Fox Island MI June 1885 Fell from Lighthouse
Raymond Linton Keeper Cape San Blas FL 1932 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
Thomas Marshall Keeper Waugoshance MI May 28, 1886 Drowned
William A. Maxwell USCG Stannard Rock MI June 18, 1961 Killed in explosion and fire
Thomas H. Mayne Keeper East Shoal TX September 16, 1875 Killed in hurricane
Joseph McCabe Keeper Deer Island MA February 19, 1916 Drowned
Charles J. McDougal District Inspector Punta Gorda CA March 5, 1909 Drowned
John McHarry Keeper Mission Point Old MI August 1, 1881 Drowned
John McKenna Keeper Lime Point CA December 22, 1902 Drowned
Harmon C.  McNall 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
Lucien F. Morden Assistant Keeper Squaw Island December 14, 1900 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
John Ostman Keeper Southwest Ledge CT November 30, 1942 Fall
Charles E. Palmquist Keeper Shark Fin Shoal MD December 21, 1947 Killed in boat explosion
Frank H. Parsons Assistant Keeper Eastern Point MA September 8, 1922 Fell from Tower while painting it
Robert P. Paquette USCG Mount Desert Rock ME May 13, 1973 Drowned
Leonard Peckering Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK April 1, 1946 Killed in tsunami
Peder H. Pedersen Assistant Keeper Pilot Island WI December 11, 1898 Drowned
William Perry Engineer LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
Charles Petersen Keeper Kewaunee Pierhead WI November 3, 1901 Drowned
Anthony Pettit Assistant Keeper Scotch Cap AK April 1, 1946 Killed in tsunami
Carmalite Philbert Keeper Choctaw Point AL 1852 Died in Fire
E. Phillips Seaman LV-006 February 5, 1918 Drowned
Neil R. Pichette USCG Mount Desert Rock ME May 13, 1973 Drowned
James Pine Jr. Assistant Keeper Jupiter Inlet FL February 22, 1921 Murdered
Isaac Pinna First Cook LV-117 May 31, 1934 Drowned
Charles J. Price Keeper Mamajuda Range MI July 5, 1920 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
Edward Riles USCG Fowey Rocks FL December 19, 1942 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 December 3, 1913 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
Thomas E. Somogyi USCG Fort Wadsworth NY November 19 1958 Died after altercation at station
David D. Spaulding Assistant Keeper Spectacle Reef MI November 10, 1896 Drowned
Vernon H. Stanton Assistant Keeper Romer Shoal NY June 16, 1916 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 June 5, 1948 Fell from Cargo Net
Alexander Toomey Assistant Keeper Makapu’u Point HI April 10, 1925 Died from burns in IOV lamp explosion
Gustavus Umberham Keeper Algoma, MI February 3, 1913 Drowned
Constantine Vangel Seaman LV-073 September 15, 1944 Lightship Sunk in Hurricane 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
John Wallwork Assistant Keeper Orient Point NY May 23, 1924 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
Joseph H. Whitmore Assistant Keeper Crabtree Ledge ME March 18, 1917 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