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Robert Marcellus Holbrook

Date of Death: February 12, 2025

Date of Birth: November 12, 1946

Biography:

Robert Marcellus Holbrook, 78, of Topsham, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2025 at VA Togus Springs Hospice in Augusta after many health challenges.  He was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to Robert M Holbrook and Grace McElroy Holbrook.

After high school he joined the Navy that included 2 tours of duty during the Vietnam “conflict” in the Gulf of Tonkin aboard the USS Boston, CAG-1.

As an adult, Robert moved around Cape Cod and held various jobs.  He worked for the town of Brewster Water Dept. as their machine operator.  He also had a charter boat business and told many interesting stories of clients, catches and weather. When he had to get a license for the size of his boat he opted to get a Coast Guard Captain’s license for a boat much larger than he needed.  He always did things to the nth degree which best describes his larger than life personality. He was a competitive cribbage player and got together each week to play with friends. He had a fly fishing shop where he taught himself to build his own fly rods and was also a duck hunting guide.  He later moved to rural Maine where his last major employer was the Jay Paper Company.  He had a lifelong love of small airplanes, gardening, fishing, hunting, camping, pit fires, traveling, winning numerous chili contests, Fords, owned horses in Maine and later in Alaska and English Labrador Retrievers, always emphasizing the word “English” and had at least one Lab since he got out of the Navy, sometimes three at a time until his passing.  He was also proud and allegiant to the philosophy of “Made in the USA” and made it a habit to always check the label.

His passion for fly fishing took him to Alaska for the rest of his career years.  He was about 40 yrs old and looking for adventure when he heard Alaska calling and he had to go.  He sold his home, gave away possessions and packed his pickup truck with his fishing poles, duck boat, canoe, supplies, his Brown Lab and headed to the North West.  No words can describe all his years of living in Alaska in an obituary. As a published author you would have to read his book, Alaskan Trout People, to get any sense of his love of flying small airplanes, high performance pump boats, bear encounters and life on the rivers. He worked for the Forest Service in between seasons and also worked a year in Sitka, part of the time as a disk jockey and talked about when he lived on Baranof Island.  He had a deep and mesmerizing story telling voice when he narrated his stories to people that would surround him anywhere he went.  Rob would often tell of the six airplane wrecks he was in and of the crazy bunch of friends he surrounded himself with as he travelled throughout Alaska, British Columbia and beyond.  He loved the life!  He owned a pro shop in Wasilla, AK where he was a professional Fly Fishing Guide living his dream job fishing primarily for “very large rainbow trout”. His reputation as a master fly rod builder made its way to the White House and was commissioned to build one for a POTUS.  He also built one for a Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Winner.  His clients would have to sign contracts that no Rainbows would be killed. They would just catch, take a photo and release. There were no barbs on his flies to hurt them. He always told clients that he needed to do his part to keep the gene pool in the waters for future generations. Unfortunately, some of the same remote rivers he fished are now barren of the large trout he and his clients fished for in Alaska.  

The VA lists Robert as a Vietnam combat Vet, exposed to Agent Orange which unfortunately took him out in the end. He was awarded several medals including a Bronze Star.  He loved life and always had a positive attitude and woke up happy every day I knew him.  He had a quick wit and a unique sense of humor.  He was adventurous, smart, interesting and fun to be with but mostly to me he was the bravest, most fearless, courageous and generous man I’ve ever known.

Robert was predeceased by his parents Robert M Holbrook and Grace McElroy Holbrook.  He is survived by his loving wife Colleen Tetu Holbrook, step daughter Autumn Johnson (Stephen Bisson) of Topsham, step son Darren Johnson (Brittney) of Rock Springs, WY and several step grandchildren. He is also survived by his son Mark D Holbrook of Cape Cod, MA.

Robert’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff at Beacon Hospice in South Portland for their compassionate care and attention to all of Robert’s needs to make him comfortable while at home and to the nurses at Togus Springs hospice in Augusta for all the end of life care and compassion for Robert in his last few days.   Also, thank you to Steve Nadeau at Funeral Alternatives in Brunswick for his helpfulness and kindness in walking me through a very difficult time.

A military burial service will be held at a later date in the spring at the Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.  To my beloved husband Rob, “Thank You for Your Service”.  You’ll forever be in my heart.  Peace…