Decade-long 'Watch' Ends for Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse Volunteer
After ten years of dedicated volunteer service to
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, one of the beacon’s modern day keepers
of the light is ending a vigilant and decorated ‘watch.’
Ted Panayotoff of Camden, who over the last decade has
been instrumental in helping bring the Rockland
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Friends of Rockland Breakwater
Lighthouse volunteer Ted Panayotoff
Breakwater
Lighthouse back to its former glory, is relocating from Maine to Oswego, New
York in December 2009.
For the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse (FRBL), a chapter of the
American Lighthouse Foundation, Ted’s departure means the loss of one of the
group’s finest volunteers.
From assisting with lighthouse maintenance projects and giving tours of the
historic site to sharing the project with community civic groups and
documenting the light’s storied history, Ted has made a significant and
lasting impact on both the lighthouse and those he served alongside.
“We are going to miss Ted,” said Dot Black, FRBL chairperson. “His countless
walks out the breakwater to check on the progress of work
FRBL Photo
Ted Panayotoff would occasionally
don his replica keeper's uniform to
help enhance FRBL events
projects, and on the building itself, revealed his
passion and care for the lighthouse. He has always stepped up to
volunteer for a project or to make himself available to help with things
like tours at the lighthouse.”
“For this and so many other contributions, Ted received a
host of volunteer awards from the Friends of Rockland Breakwater
Lighthouse and the American Lighthouse Foundation, all of which were
very well deserved.”
No matter the need, Ted could be counted on to don either
his work clothes or replica lighthouse keeper’s uniform to help make a
difference.
In fact, right up until the time Ted and his wife Jo were scheduled to leave
Maine, he continued working as hard as ever.
His latest volunteer efforts during the past few months helped the FRBL
complete the exterior restoration of the light station’s boathouse and
obtain a historic peapod boat for the lighthouse.
For Ted himself, the memories and fun times were many.
When asked what project he was most proud of during his
tenure as a volunteer for the lighthouse, he was quick to note that it
was the sum of all the efforts achieved by the group.
“The most satisfying accomplishment is to see the overall
progress of the restoration of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse; from a
largely derelict building
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Ted Panayotoff, shown working on the
boathouse in Oct. 2009, served as FRBL's
project coordinator the past two years
to an almost
completed restoration,” said Ted Panayotoff.
“Some specific projects that were most satisfying are the exterior tower
railing (carried out by the descendent of the original lighthouse
construction contractor), the railing around the pier on which the structure
sits and the boathouse restoration with the new doors that will allow access
to a part of the light station that was sealed off for over 40 years.”
Panayotoff went on to note, “One of the things that stands out is the great
fun of the volunteer workdays during restoration projects and the spring
cleanings that we carried out at the lighthouse; both by our organization
and the various other community groups who helped at different times such as
FMC Corporation in Rockland, the U.S. Navy and local Boy Scouts, etc.”
For all of Ted’s
skill when it came to lighthouse maintenance projects, he was just as
proficient in his efforts to research the history of the
ALF Photo
Ted Panayotoff enjoyed teaching others
about the history of Rockland Breakwater
Light and Maine lighthouses in general
lighthouse. In
2002 he co-authored the book The Lighthouse at Rockland Breakwater,
which is chock-full of information and interesting facts about this
Midcoast Maine icon.
In addition to the teaching and historical value of his
book, Ted also brought history to life for the general
public through his many guided tours at the lighthouse and school and civic
organization presentations.
“As a tour guide, I have enjoyed telling visitors about the history of the
lighthouse and the keepers that served at it over the years,” said
Panayotoff.
“Two things stand out for me: when someone says they have lived in Rockland
or the nearby area and this is the first time they have been inside the
lighthouse and learned about its history. That is a great satisfaction. The
other is the thrill when someone says that they knew, or are related to, a
former keeper. The opportunity then exists to learn more about the history
of the lighthouse and the keepers.”
Eric Davis, FRBL vice-chairperson and the group’s
volunteer coordinator, is someone who has a great appreciation for all
that Ted Panayotoff has contributed to the lighthouse.
On many occasions Ted volunteered – both on a scheduled
basis and as a last minute fill-in, at the lighthouse during the regular
open house schedule each summer.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Ted Panayotoff would often be found
carrying out a maintenance project
at Rockland Breakwater Light
“Needless to say, Ted Panayotoff has played a vital role in the ongoing
efforts of the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse to accomplish its
restoration, preservation and educational goals for the lighthouse,” said
Eric Davis. “His unwavering dedication and unselfish contributions to the
group in all areas will be sorely missed.”
Davis went on to note, “In addition, Ted’s historical knowledge, combined
with his attention to detail and persistence in completing an assigned task
was beneficial when he served as the group’s project coordinator for
lighthouse restoration.”
It goes without saying that Ted Panayotoff is a big believer in the value of
volunteerism for community efforts like Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
“Volunteerism is the most important part of preserving a treasure like the
lighthouse,” said Panayotoff. “Taking volunteerism in the broad sense,
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Ted Panayotoff has now become
part an important part of Rockland
Breakwater Light's history for
which he worked so hard
to research and share
i.e. volunteering time, services, material or money by
the local community helps transforms the restoration project into a true
community effort. The community is now a part of the effort and it
becomes “their” lighthouse.”
Panayotoff went on to say, “My message to the community
would be to get involved, stay involved, and to participate in all the
activities of the organization beyond just volunteer time at the
lighthouse. There are so many different things to do and help with; all
are very important and rewarding.”
For his dedication and contributions, Ted has been
honored numerous times over the
years with awards from the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse and the
American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), including being the recipient of ALF’s
prestigious “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award,” which he received on three
different occasions.
But awards can hardly tell the full story or convey the true value of Ted’s
ten years of volunteerism.
“Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse shines much brighter today thanks to a
volunteer like Ted Panayotoff,” said Bob Trapani, Jr., ALF executive
director. “Ted is now a permanent part of the rich history of the lighthouse
that he worked so hard to preserve and document over the past decade. The
keeper’s of old would be quite proud of his service and dedicated ‘watch’
these last ten years – I know the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
and the American Lighthouse Foundation surely are.”
