Bernard C STAPLES

1932 - 2013  (80 Jahre)

• Name	Bernard C STAPLES
  Geburt-Taufe	4 Nov 1932	Maine, USA
  Geschlecht	männlich
  LifeSketch	LifeSketch BAR HARBOR — The Honorable Bernard C. Staples of Bar Harbor entered the house of his Father on Sept. 26, 2013, after a long illness that resulted in a blessedly short decline. Bernard was affectionately known to all of his friends as "Bernie." He was born Nov. 4, 1932, to Clark R. Staples and Olive Parks Staples. Bernie graduated from Rockland High School, then received his Bachelor of Arts in Classics, studying Latin and Greek, from Bates College in 1955. He spent two years in the United States Army, and taught high school for a year. He then went to Boston University Law School and graduated with honors in 1961, earning a spot as a senior editor of the Law Review. Bernie then worked as an attorney for the United States Army Corps of Engineers in West Virginia, returned to Maine, and entered into practice with Ralph Masterman in Bar Harbor. Bernie married Jeanette Staples in 1964, and the couple had a daughter, Heather, in 1967. Jeanette retired from her employ as librarian at the Jesup Memorial Library, and Bernie continued in his practice, notably as county attorney for Hancock County for a term. Bernie worked long hours as an attorney, focusing his practice on transactional law. He also did public defense work, and included among his cases a homicide matter. Bernie also practiced municipal law, and was town and city attorney to many of the municipalities in the area. He was appointed to the District Court bench in February 1989, serving in Belfast for a time. He also served the court in Bar Harbor until that court was closed in 2005. Notably, Bernie was the District Court judge in Ellsworth for over 21 years. During his time on the bench, he oversaw thousands of cases, primarily involving family law, child protective and criminal law matters. Bernie took his responsibility as the judge in Hancock County very seriously, spending most weekends in his office writing decisions. Above all, he believed that serving the citizens of Hancock County meant serving not only the adults, but most importantly the children in the family law and child protective matters he dealt with most days. Bernie retired in 2010, and enrolled in Grace Evangelical Seminary in Bangor. A deeply religious man, he enjoyed the education he received, keeping himself fully engaged studying Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. He welcomed all of his church family entirely into his life as close members of his community, and continued to be involved with them until his passing. Bernie was a member of the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove for decades, but also enjoyed being a part of the church communities at the Southwest Harbor Congregational Church and the Tremont Congregational Church. Bernie also was very involved in his community in roles other than as a judge and devout Christian; he was part of the SAFE Family Exchange in Hancock County, which provides a safe and peaceful setting for high conflict families to exchange their children for visitation, and in the past he was one of the founding members of the MDI Alcohol and Drug Abuse Group. He was a member of the Bar Harbor Rotary, as well as a past member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Bernie enjoyed many recreational activities. Never content to sit and let life pass him by, in the past he would take yearly sailing trips with his friends for a week exploring many locations together. He was a lifelong reader, belonging to a very vibrant book club made up of close friends. Bernie loved music and theater, enjoying thoroughly the Met shows at The Grand. While in college he even once performed in "Brigadoon." He did not have a singing role, however. More recently, Bernie found a passion for kayaking, finding great pleasure and a closer relationship with his Father while paddling beautiful locations with a very close kayaking "buddy," who was much like a son to him. He is survived by his daughter, Heather Staples of Bar Harbor, who also is an attorney and engaged him nightly in legal argument; Bernie usually won. He also is survived by his daughter-in-law, Michelle Staples of Bar Harbor, who brought great joy to his life along with a certain peacefulness that words cannot express. He is further survived by his much loved cousins, James and Harriet O'Neil of Thomaston. Bernie will be greatly missed by his two cats, Stella and Spats; and a beagle named Hank. Bernie was predeceased by his wife, Jeanette, who passed in 2006. Bernie, as a lawyer and a judge, may be remembered by many things, but perhaps one concept would be of primary importance: "De minimis non curat lex." Or, "the law does not bother itself with little things." Bernie always focused on the key issues of every case and controversy brought before him, giving great heed to the evidence and arguments made about law by his peers, but did not fail to see the big picture and he gave justice fairly and honestly. Visiting hours will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at St. Saviour's Episcopal Church, 41 Mt. Desert St., Bar Harbor. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Route 3, Hulls Cove. Following the interment, a reception at the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, across from the cemetery, will bring refreshment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to SAFE Family Exchange, P.O. Box 1285, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
  FSID	L1D1-W9T
  Tod	26 Sep 2013	Bar Harbor, Hancock, Maine, USA
  	LifeSketch BAR HARBOR – The Honorable Bernard C. Staples of Bar Harbor entered the house of his Father on Sept. 26, 2013, after a long illness that resulted in a blessedly short decline. Bernard was affectionately known to all of his friends as "Bernie." He was born Nov. 4, 1932, to Clark R. Staples and Olive Parks Staples. Bernie graduated from Rockland High School, then received his Bachelor of Arts in Classics, studying Latin and Greek, from Bates College in 1955. He spent two years in the United States Army, and taught high school for a year. He then went to Boston University Law School and graduated with honors in 1961, earning a spot as a senior editor of the Law Review. Bernie then worked as an attorney for the United States Army Corps of Engineers in West Virginia, returned to Maine, and entered into practice with Ralph Masterman in Bar Harbor. Bernie married Jeanette Staples in 1964, and the couple had a daughter, Heather, in 1967. Jeanette retired from her employ as librarian at the Jesup Memorial Library, and Bernie continued in his practice, notably as county attorney for Hancock County for a term. Bernie worked long hours as an attorney, focusing his practice on transactional law. He also did public defense work, and included among his cases a homicide matter. Bernie also practiced municipal law, and was town and city attorney to many of the municipalities in the area. He was appointed to the District Court bench in February 1989, serving in Belfast for a time. He also served the court in Bar Harbor until that court was closed in 2005. Notably, Bernie was the District Court judge in Ellsworth for over 21 years. During his time on the bench, he oversaw thousands of cases, primarily involving family law, child protective and criminal law matters. Bernie took his responsibility as the judge in Hancock County very seriously, spending most weekends in his office writing decisions. Above all, he believed that serving the citizens of Hancock County meant serving not only the adults, but most importantly the children in the family law and child protective matters he dealt with most days. Bernie retired in 2010, and enrolled in Grace Evangelical Seminary in Bangor. A deeply religious man, he enjoyed the education he received, keeping himself fully engaged studying Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. He welcomed all of his church family entirely into his life as close members of his community, and continued to be involved with them until his passing. Bernie was a member of the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove for decades, but also enjoyed being a part of the church communities at the Southwest Harbor Congregational Church and the Tremont Congregational Church. Bernie also was very involved in his community in roles other than as a judge and devout Christian; he was part of the SAFE Family Exchange in Hancock County, which provides a safe and peaceful setting for high conflict families to exchange their children for visitation, and in the past he was one of the founding members of the MDI Alcohol and Drug Abuse Group. He was a member of the Bar Harbor Rotary, as well as a past member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Bernie enjoyed many recreational activities. Never content to sit and let life pass him by, in the past he would take yearly sailing trips with his friends for a week exploring many locations together. He was a lifelong reader, belonging to a very vibrant book club made up of close friends. Bernie loved music and theater, enjoying thoroughly the Met shows at The Grand. While in college he even once performed in "Brigadoon." He did not have a singing role, however. More recently, Bernie found a passion for kayaking, finding great pleasure and a closer relationship with his Father while paddling beautiful locations with a very close kayaking "buddy," who was much like a son to him. He is survived by his daughter, Heather Staples of Bar Harbor, who also is an attorney and engaged him nightly in legal argument; Bernie usually won. He also is survived by his daughter-in-law, Michelle Staples of Bar Harbor, who brought great joy to his life along with a certain peacefulness that words cannot express. He is further survived by his much loved cousins, James and Harriet O'Neil of Thomaston. Bernie will be greatly missed by his two cats, Stella and Spats; and a beagle named Hank. Bernie was predeceased by his wife, Jeanette, who passed in 2006. Bernie, as a lawyer and a judge, may be remembered by many things, but perhaps one concept would be of primary importance: "De minimis non curat lex." Or, "the law does not bother itself with little things." Bernie always focused on the key issues of every case and controversy brought before him, giving great heed to the evidence and arguments made about law by his peers, but did not fail to see the big picture and he gave justice fairly and honestly. Visiting hours will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at St. Saviour's Episcopal Church, 41 Mt. Desert St., Bar Harbor. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Route 3, Hulls Cove. Following the interment, a reception at the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, across from the cemetery, will bring refreshment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to SAFE Family Exchange, P.O. Box 1285, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
  Age at Death	80 Jahre
  Beerdigung	Hillside Cemetery, Hulls Cover, Hancock, Maine, USA
  Personen-Kennung	I45655	KLERC

  
  

  Vater	Clark Russell STAPLES,   geb. 16 Aug 1905, Rockport, Knox, Maine, USA gest. 23 Feb 1990, Bar Harbor, Hancock, Maine, USA (Alter 84 Jahre)
  Beziehung	natural
  Mutter	Olive L PARKS,   geb. 21 Apr 1910, Thomaston, Knox, Maine, USA gest. 7 Feb 2005, Bar Harbor, Hancock, Maine, USA (Alter 94 Jahre)
  Beziehung	natural
  Eheschließung	11 Jan 1930	Maine, USA
  Familien-Kennung	F31939	Familienblatt  |  Familientafel

  
  

  Gatte / Gattin	Jeanette STAPLES,   geb. 29 Mrz 1927, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, USA gest. 12 Okt 2006, Bar Harbor, Hancock, Maine, USA (Alter 79 Jahre)
  Eheschließung	1 Okt 1964	Maine, USA
  Kinder	1. Son STAPLES   gest. UNKNOWN  [Vater: natural]  [Mutter: natural]
  Familien-Kennung	F31916	Familienblatt  |  Familientafel
  Zuletzt bearbeitet am	22 Jul 2025

  
  

• Stammbaum

  ← Anklicken zum Einblenden 1Bernard C STAPLES(1932 – 2013) 2Clark Russell STAPLES(1905 – 1990) 4 8 16 17 9 18 19 5 10 20 21 11 22 23 3Olive L PARKS(1910 – 2005) 6Enos Sheffield PARKS(1883 – 1961) 12 24 25 13 26 27 7Abigail Esther MANK(1885 – 1929) 14Gilbert F. MANK(1848 – 1937) 28Edward MINK(1813 – 1899) 29Esther Ann DOW(1815 – 1888) 15Luella A EUGLEY(1864 – 1953) 30 31

  
  

• Ereignis-Karte

  Geburt-Taufe - 4 Nov 1932 - Maine, USA Eheschließung - 1 Okt 1964 - Maine, USA Tod - 26 Sep 2013 - Bar Harbor, Hancock, Maine, USA  = Link zu Google Earth