Coastal Maine: Portland to Bar Harbor

At the age of 12, Jim Sharpe — without his parent’s knowledge — pilfered the family skiff and sailed across Dredge Harbor, N.J. His love for sailing never dwindled, and over the years he made his way to Maine where he discovered the Windjammer fleet out of Camden. Upon retirement, he sailed around the world with his wife. In 2007, Jim purchased property in Rockland, Maine and began to create the Sail, Power & Steam Museum, along with a Children’s Museum and boat shop.

Debra Levin is an honors graduate of Penn State and a former teacher. Debra has led groups of seniors, students, nurses, veterinarians, and retired fire chiefs to name but a few. Back home in Boston, she spends time volunteering with the symphony, theaters, and an art museum, when not speed walking and playing Wordle.

A native Mainer, Sam summered on the remote island of Matinicus and spent as much time as possible on and around boats. He has degrees in history and public speaking and has been a lecturer for many Road Scholar programs in New England, Maritime Canada and on the Erie Canal focusing on colonial settlement of the northeast and its maritime history. Over the years, Sam has worked as a lobster sternman, visiting school lecturer, kite flyer, trip leader, and house renovator.

After thirty plus years in health care education, Gerry embarked on a path of a long held interest in hospitality. His adventures include an eight-year stint at a Bar Harbor inn where he held various positions in food service, concierge, and guest services. Gerry also worked in the cruise industry in Bar Harbor as a member of the pier team. That last job led to Gerry’s interest in leading groups so he can share beautiful Mount Desert Island, Maine and the spectacular Acadia National Park.

Nancy Coolidge graduated from Mount Holyoke College, and later attended the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in business administration and worked in a bank trust department. In 1979, she became a founding trustee of the Lynch Foundation. She later moved to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA), where she served as staff director from 1983 to 1992. She has since led groups to maritime Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and Antarctica. She continues her work with the Lynch Foundation.

Lili Murad knows firsthand the unique, life-changing moments that only travel can provide, whether it be building houses with Habit for Humanity in New Zealand, working at an eco-lodge in Costa Rica, or participating in a Bald Eagle field study project in Alaska. She made her first solo trip at the tender age of 9, and has since visited 30 countries and 29 U.S. states. In between adventures, she has put down deep roots in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Boston.

Linda Pomerleau is a Mainer both by birth and by choice. Since retiring from a 25-year teaching career, during which she taught Maine history and language arts to 8th graders, she has been sharing her love of Maine by leading groups in Acadia National Park and all of Mount Desert Island. Linda enjoys kayaking, biking, hiking, and snowshoeing. She also enjoys spending time looking for moose and deer with her NYC grandkids when they are in Maine, as well as fostering their love of reading.