The Suffolk Times, Mattituck, NY, 16 Oct 2008
Merlon Wiggin, 78
If you live on the North Fork, you'll never spot a lighthouse without thinking of Merlon Wiggin, who died Oct. 8 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 78 years old.
A 47-year resident of East Marion, he was born Sept. 21, 1930, in Albion, Maine, to Ruby (Bickmore) and Raymond Wiggin.
While he has been honored as an historian, Mr. Wiggin did more than study the actions of others. He made some history of his own as a board member of the East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation and later president of East End Lighthouses Inc.
It was Mr. Wiggin who spearheaded restoration efforts completed in 1990 at Long Beach Bar "Bug" Lighthouse. More recently, it was Mr. Wiggin who pushed for restoration efforts at the Plum Island Lighthouse.
A tribute on the East End Lighthouses Web site praises Mr. Wiggin for his "determination that helped him create and complete so many worthwhile projects in his lifetime. Merlon never gave up anything easily, even when the going was rough."
One of those rough patches occurred when there was a split between Mr. Wiggin and other members of the EESMF board that led to a long and bitter feud over the ownership of Bug Light. The New York State Supreme Court finally resolved the dispute in 2005, giving ownership of the lighthouse and responsibility for its routine maintenance to the foundation while East End Lighthouses retained responsibility for major repairs and improvements. East End Lighthouses also gained use of Bug Light six days a year on dates of its choosing that didn't interfere with foundation activities.
Once he left the foundation board in 2000, Mr. Wiggin applied his considerable energies to East End Lighthouses, bringing the same enthusiasm he had brought to the Bug Light restoration to efforts to restore Plum Island Lighthouse.
Mr. Wiggin had been chief of engineering at Plum Island for 19 years. Upon his retirement, he became an environmental consultant, founding Peconic Associates Inc. and Isocon Limited, operating first out of an office in Greenport and later from his home in East Marion.
In 2007, Mr. Wiggin received a certificate of honor from Congressman Tim Bishop for his work on the Bug Light restoration and his writings and publications on maritime history. He also received proclamations from Suffolk County Legislator Edward Romaine and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.
Under Mr. Wiggin's leadership, East End Lighthouses' mission has been to encourage the preservation and restoration of lighthouses, particularly the offshore lighthouses of Southold Town.
A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Mr. Wiggin was vice captain of Division 18 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as one of its past presidents. He also held a Coast Guard master's license and served in the Air Force Reserves for 35 years.
Other affiliations included the Southold Rotary Club, of which he was a past president, the Masonic Temple in Greenport, Greenport Chamber of Commerce and East Marion Community Church.
Also a former president of North Fork Environmental Council, Mr. Wiggin was best known in recent years for organizing and conducting various lighthouse cruises to raise money for East End Lighthouses.
In 2007, he was appointed by Mayor David Nyce to the Greenport Village utilities committee. A member of the Conservative Party, he made two unsuccessful bids for elective office, seeking a seat on the Southold Town Board in 2005 and 2007.
He wrote extensively about lighthouses and their history for various local publications and in 2006 published "History of Little Gull Light Station."
Mr. Wiggin received his B.S. and bachelor of mechanical engineering degrees from the University of Maine; bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Columbia University; and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Columbia Pacific University.
He is survived by his wife, Isabelle (née Hills), whom he married on June 14, 1951, in Belfast, Maine; and three children -- Gene, the Rev. Donald and Michael. He also is survived by four siblings, Marlene Tew, Karl and Jim Wiggin, and Merideth Beal; and three grandchildren.
DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is handling funeral arrangements. A memorial service will be conducted aboard a Cross Sound Ferry vessel on Monday, Oct. 20, by his son and grandson, the Rev. Donald and Joel Wiggin. Mr. Wiggin's ashes will be scattered at Bug Light and military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Air Force. The service is open to the public, and boarding will begin at 1 p.m. at Cross Sound Ferry's Orient Point terminal.
Family members request that any memorial donations be directed to East End Lighthouses Inc., P.O. Box 21, Greenport, NY 11944.
Merlon Wiggin, 78
If you live on the North Fork, you'll never spot a lighthouse without thinking of Merlon Wiggin, who died Oct. 8 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 78 years old.
A 47-year resident of East Marion, he was born Sept. 21, 1930, in Albion, Maine, to Ruby (Bickmore) and Raymond Wiggin.
While he has been honored as an historian, Mr. Wiggin did more than study the actions of others. He made some history of his own as a board member of the East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation and later president of East End Lighthouses Inc.
It was Mr. Wiggin who spearheaded restoration efforts completed in 1990 at Long Beach Bar "Bug" Lighthouse. More recently, it was Mr. Wiggin who pushed for restoration efforts at the Plum Island Lighthouse.
A tribute on the East End Lighthouses Web site praises Mr. Wiggin for his "determination that helped him create and complete so many worthwhile projects in his lifetime. Merlon never gave up anything easily, even when the going was rough."
One of those rough patches occurred when there was a split between Mr. Wiggin and other members of the EESMF board that led to a long and bitter feud over the ownership of Bug Light. The New York State Supreme Court finally resolved the dispute in 2005, giving ownership of the lighthouse and responsibility for its routine maintenance to the foundation while East End Lighthouses retained responsibility for major repairs and improvements. East End Lighthouses also gained use of Bug Light six days a year on dates of its choosing that didn't interfere with foundation activities.
Once he left the foundation board in 2000, Mr. Wiggin applied his considerable energies to East End Lighthouses, bringing the same enthusiasm he had brought to the Bug Light restoration to efforts to restore Plum Island Lighthouse.
Mr. Wiggin had been chief of engineering at Plum Island for 19 years. Upon his retirement, he became an environmental consultant, founding Peconic Associates Inc. and Isocon Limited, operating first out of an office in Greenport and later from his home in East Marion.
In 2007, Mr. Wiggin received a certificate of honor from Congressman Tim Bishop for his work on the Bug Light restoration and his writings and publications on maritime history. He also received proclamations from Suffolk County Legislator Edward Romaine and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.
Under Mr. Wiggin's leadership, East End Lighthouses' mission has been to encourage the preservation and restoration of lighthouses, particularly the offshore lighthouses of Southold Town.
A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Mr. Wiggin was vice captain of Division 18 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as one of its past presidents. He also held a Coast Guard master's license and served in the Air Force Reserves for 35 years.
Other affiliations included the Southold Rotary Club, of which he was a past president, the Masonic Temple in Greenport, Greenport Chamber of Commerce and East Marion Community Church.
Also a former president of North Fork Environmental Council, Mr. Wiggin was best known in recent years for organizing and conducting various lighthouse cruises to raise money for East End Lighthouses.
In 2007, he was appointed by Mayor David Nyce to the Greenport Village utilities committee. A member of the Conservative Party, he made two unsuccessful bids for elective office, seeking a seat on the Southold Town Board in 2005 and 2007.
He wrote extensively about lighthouses and their history for various local publications and in 2006 published "History of Little Gull Light Station."
Mr. Wiggin received his B.S. and bachelor of mechanical engineering degrees from the University of Maine; bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Columbia University; and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Columbia Pacific University.
He is survived by his wife, Isabelle (née Hills), whom he married on June 14, 1951, in Belfast, Maine; and three children -- Gene, the Rev. Donald and Michael. He also is survived by four siblings, Marlene Tew, Karl and Jim Wiggin, and Merideth Beal; and three grandchildren.
DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is handling funeral arrangements. A memorial service will be conducted aboard a Cross Sound Ferry vessel on Monday, Oct. 20, by his son and grandson, the Rev. Donald and Joel Wiggin. Mr. Wiggin's ashes will be scattered at Bug Light and military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Air Force. The service is open to the public, and boarding will begin at 1 p.m. at Cross Sound Ferry's Orient Point terminal.
Family members request that any memorial donations be directed to East End Lighthouses Inc., P.O. Box 21, Greenport, NY 11944.
The Suffolk Times, Mattituck, NY, 16 Oct 2008
Merlon Wiggin, 78
If you live on the North Fork, you'll never spot a lighthouse without thinking of Merlon Wiggin, who died Oct. 8 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 78 years old.
A 47-year resident of East Marion, he was born Sept. 21, 1930, in Albion, Maine, to Ruby (Bickmore) and Raymond Wiggin.
While he has been honored as an historian, Mr. Wiggin did more than study the actions of others. He made some history of his own as a board member of the East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation and later president of East End Lighthouses Inc.
It was Mr. Wiggin who spearheaded restoration efforts completed in 1990 at Long Beach Bar "Bug" Lighthouse. More recently, it was Mr. Wiggin who pushed for restoration efforts at the Plum Island Lighthouse.
A tribute on the East End Lighthouses Web site praises Mr. Wiggin for his "determination that helped him create and complete so many worthwhile projects in his lifetime. Merlon never gave up anything easily, even when the going was rough."
One of those rough patches occurred when there was a split between Mr. Wiggin and other members of the EESMF board that led to a long and bitter feud over the ownership of Bug Light. The New York State Supreme Court finally resolved the dispute in 2005, giving ownership of the lighthouse and responsibility for its routine maintenance to the foundation while East End Lighthouses retained responsibility for major repairs and improvements. East End Lighthouses also gained use of Bug Light six days a year on dates of its choosing that didn't interfere with foundation activities.
Once he left the foundation board in 2000, Mr. Wiggin applied his considerable energies to East End Lighthouses, bringing the same enthusiasm he had brought to the Bug Light restoration to efforts to restore Plum Island Lighthouse.
Mr. Wiggin had been chief of engineering at Plum Island for 19 years. Upon his retirement, he became an environmental consultant, founding Peconic Associates Inc. and Isocon Limited, operating first out of an office in Greenport and later from his home in East Marion.
In 2007, Mr. Wiggin received a certificate of honor from Congressman Tim Bishop for his work on the Bug Light restoration and his writings and publications on maritime history. He also received proclamations from Suffolk County Legislator Edward Romaine and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.
Under Mr. Wiggin's leadership, East End Lighthouses' mission has been to encourage the preservation and restoration of lighthouses, particularly the offshore lighthouses of Southold Town.
A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Mr. Wiggin was vice captain of Division 18 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as one of its past presidents. He also held a Coast Guard master's license and served in the Air Force Reserves for 35 years.
Other affiliations included the Southold Rotary Club, of which he was a past president, the Masonic Temple in Greenport, Greenport Chamber of Commerce and East Marion Community Church.
Also a former president of North Fork Environmental Council, Mr. Wiggin was best known in recent years for organizing and conducting various lighthouse cruises to raise money for East End Lighthouses.
In 2007, he was appointed by Mayor David Nyce to the Greenport Village utilities committee. A member of the Conservative Party, he made two unsuccessful bids for elective office, seeking a seat on the Southold Town Board in 2005 and 2007.
He wrote extensively about lighthouses and their history for various local publications and in 2006 published "History of Little Gull Light Station."
Mr. Wiggin received his B.S. and bachelor of mechanical engineering degrees from the University of Maine; bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Columbia University; and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Columbia Pacific University.
He is survived by his wife, Isabelle (née Hills), whom he married on June 14, 1951, in Belfast, Maine; and three children -- Gene, the Rev. Donald and Michael. He also is survived by four siblings, Marlene Tew, Karl and Jim Wiggin, and Merideth Beal; and three grandchildren.
DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is handling funeral arrangements. A memorial service will be conducted aboard a Cross Sound Ferry vessel on Monday, Oct. 20, by his son and grandson, the Rev. Donald and Joel Wiggin. Mr. Wiggin's ashes will be scattered at Bug Light and military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Air Force. The service is open to the public, and boarding will begin at 1 p.m. at Cross Sound Ferry's Orient Point terminal.
Family members request that any memorial donations be directed to East End Lighthouses Inc., P.O. Box 21, Greenport, NY 11944.
Merlon Wiggin, 78
If you live on the North Fork, you'll never spot a lighthouse without thinking of Merlon Wiggin, who died Oct. 8 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 78 years old.
A 47-year resident of East Marion, he was born Sept. 21, 1930, in Albion, Maine, to Ruby (Bickmore) and Raymond Wiggin.
While he has been honored as an historian, Mr. Wiggin did more than study the actions of others. He made some history of his own as a board member of the East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation and later president of East End Lighthouses Inc.
It was Mr. Wiggin who spearheaded restoration efforts completed in 1990 at Long Beach Bar "Bug" Lighthouse. More recently, it was Mr. Wiggin who pushed for restoration efforts at the Plum Island Lighthouse.
A tribute on the East End Lighthouses Web site praises Mr. Wiggin for his "determination that helped him create and complete so many worthwhile projects in his lifetime. Merlon never gave up anything easily, even when the going was rough."
One of those rough patches occurred when there was a split between Mr. Wiggin and other members of the EESMF board that led to a long and bitter feud over the ownership of Bug Light. The New York State Supreme Court finally resolved the dispute in 2005, giving ownership of the lighthouse and responsibility for its routine maintenance to the foundation while East End Lighthouses retained responsibility for major repairs and improvements. East End Lighthouses also gained use of Bug Light six days a year on dates of its choosing that didn't interfere with foundation activities.
Once he left the foundation board in 2000, Mr. Wiggin applied his considerable energies to East End Lighthouses, bringing the same enthusiasm he had brought to the Bug Light restoration to efforts to restore Plum Island Lighthouse.
Mr. Wiggin had been chief of engineering at Plum Island for 19 years. Upon his retirement, he became an environmental consultant, founding Peconic Associates Inc. and Isocon Limited, operating first out of an office in Greenport and later from his home in East Marion.
In 2007, Mr. Wiggin received a certificate of honor from Congressman Tim Bishop for his work on the Bug Light restoration and his writings and publications on maritime history. He also received proclamations from Suffolk County Legislator Edward Romaine and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.
Under Mr. Wiggin's leadership, East End Lighthouses' mission has been to encourage the preservation and restoration of lighthouses, particularly the offshore lighthouses of Southold Town.
A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Mr. Wiggin was vice captain of Division 18 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as one of its past presidents. He also held a Coast Guard master's license and served in the Air Force Reserves for 35 years.
Other affiliations included the Southold Rotary Club, of which he was a past president, the Masonic Temple in Greenport, Greenport Chamber of Commerce and East Marion Community Church.
Also a former president of North Fork Environmental Council, Mr. Wiggin was best known in recent years for organizing and conducting various lighthouse cruises to raise money for East End Lighthouses.
In 2007, he was appointed by Mayor David Nyce to the Greenport Village utilities committee. A member of the Conservative Party, he made two unsuccessful bids for elective office, seeking a seat on the Southold Town Board in 2005 and 2007.
He wrote extensively about lighthouses and their history for various local publications and in 2006 published "History of Little Gull Light Station."
Mr. Wiggin received his B.S. and bachelor of mechanical engineering degrees from the University of Maine; bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Columbia University; and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Columbia Pacific University.
He is survived by his wife, Isabelle (née Hills), whom he married on June 14, 1951, in Belfast, Maine; and three children -- Gene, the Rev. Donald and Michael. He also is survived by four siblings, Marlene Tew, Karl and Jim Wiggin, and Merideth Beal; and three grandchildren.
DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is handling funeral arrangements. A memorial service will be conducted aboard a Cross Sound Ferry vessel on Monday, Oct. 20, by his son and grandson, the Rev. Donald and Joel Wiggin. Mr. Wiggin's ashes will be scattered at Bug Light and military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Air Force. The service is open to the public, and boarding will begin at 1 p.m. at Cross Sound Ferry's Orient Point terminal.
Family members request that any memorial donations be directed to East End Lighthouses Inc., P.O. Box 21, Greenport, NY 11944.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
