A family man and his ‘Condo’

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I never cease to be grateful for the generosity of “strangers” who invite writers in, feed us and tell us stories that we’re encouraged to share with others.

Most times, we writers end up with good tales to tell. Sometimes we end up with new friends. And many times, we make tentative plans to touch base at some future time in order to plan a follow-up adventure.

You may not have noticed an obituary in Friday’s paper. It told – in just a few somber inches of type – the story of a Maine man’s life.

It was, as many are, a life that ended far too soon.

About 15 months ago, Jon Boyington of Lincoln read that I was looking to visit interesting ice-fishing shacks for a feature story I planned to write.

Boyington was among the first to respond, and was by far the most tenacious in both setting up a trip and making sure his guest was taken care of.

I remember the 10-below temps and biting wind as we lurched our way over a series of snow drifts on a seemingly endless snowmobile ride up Chamberlain Lake to the shack he called – proudly, it’s important to note – The Allagash Condo.

Jon Boyington was an enthusiastic tour guide all day long, showing me around the ‘Condo,’ and other nearby points of interest.

Boyington was simply a Maine man who loved his family and loved the outdoors. He built a place that wasn’t a retreat from family, as some projects become for some sportsmen, but a retreat for family.

The Boyingtons spent much of their winters crammed into an 8-by-16-foot ice house – Jon didn’t call it a “shack” – and they thrived there.

Daughter A.J. – who was 13 when I met her while working on the story – was born on Dec. 5, 1989. Less than 30 days later, she went on her first ice-fishing trip on Chamberlain Lake.

“She can run a jig stick with the best of ’em, and she’s been baiting her own hooks since she was 21/2 years old,” Jon Boyington proudly told me that afternoon as A.J. sat nearby.

Lunch that day consisted of hot dogs and soda, I remember. Folding chairs were our furniture, and stories flowed easily from the outset.

Jon Boyington was comfortable. He was engaging. He was friendly.

He was, he told me, home.

He had found a way to spend plenty of time with the people he loved, participating in an activity that each of them loved. He worked hard all week … and relished the weekends they spent together – as he put it – “on the hardwater.”

Friday’s obituary told me things I didn’t know; things a writer doesn’t find out after the story is done, the truck is packed, and you head back to your own home, to work on other projects, to write other columns about other topics.

Jon Boyington had cancer. He fought hard. But on Thursday morning – just nine days after his 46th birthday, he died.

His family was at his side.

Just, I’m sure, as he would have wanted it.

I received a brief e-mail response to Thursday’s column about Greenville guide Danny Legere’s recent three-week fishing vacation in Florida, which I’d like to share with you here.

In it, another Mainer (not a former Mainer, since I figure a thousand miles of Interstate highway can make for a difficult commute, but can’t change a person’s affiliation with our great state) says he also fishes Florida’s waters from a boat manufactured in Old Town.

Rob Kelley, who lives in Largo, Fla., admitted he gets a bit of grief for his choice of fishing platforms.

Here’s part of what he had to say:

“Being a Mainer who is now living in Florida … I miss all the days of stalking deer on a fresh snow up near Dover-Foxcroft. But now I hunt reds and snook for most of the year and so that makes up for some of the longings,” he wrote.

“I fish from an Old Town Loon 111 kayak that all my fellow ‘yakkers’ snicker at because of its size.”

Kelley ignores the snickers, though. The reason: His boat has proven productive … and very stealthy.

“I get the last laugh when my little kayak gets me even closer to the fish and it rides better in rough water than most kayaks do.”

Carol Lackedy admits she has come up with some original fund-raising methods over the years in order to help out the Children’s Miracle Network.

“My fiance and I do a lot of odd events for CMN,” she said. “[For example], we ride a riding lawnmower from Presque Isle to Bangor each year.”

She also has organized the Enchanted Forest Halloween event twice.

That constant quest for new ideas explains Lackedy’s reaction when she read about Tess Ftorek’s successful Polar Bear Dip, which raises money for Washington County Community College’s Student Senate.

Lackedy decided a similar spring event would work perfectly, and is preparing for the first Ice-Out Plunge for Children’s Miracle Network.

The event is planned for May 15. Registration is at 11 a.m., and the plunge will take place at noon at Lakeside Landing in Glenburn.

Lackedy entered the project with modest goals, which she already have been surpassed.

“My goal was to get 20 people. So far, I’ve got about 30,” she said.

The Ice-Out Plunge originally was going to be held in April, but Lackedy decided to move it to May so the water temperatures would be more tolerable.

Since ice went out of Pushaw back in early April, and temperatures have been warming steadily, the Ice-Out Plunge could give novice “polar bears” the chance to gradually work their way up to a more frigid winter dip.

And you’re not expected to swim around. A quick dash into the water … then a much quicker return dash to dry land … is all it takes.

Lackedy has been involved with CMN for about nine years. Her involvement became more personal a few years ago with the birth of her daughter, Brooke, who has benefited from CMN funds.

CMN, Lackedy explained, “provides equipment and lifesaving support for all children, in any part of the state and any part of the country. They saved my daughter. We lost her six times when she was first born, and they saved her life.”

For those who may be interested in another outdoors-oriented activity that will benefit CMN, Lackedy has another option on tap: A four-day canoe trip on the Allagash is also being planned.

For information about the Ice-Out Plunge or Allagash trip, call Lackedy at 848-7317.

Or, if you just want to take pledges and bring them to the event and sign up at the registration table, you’ll be welcome.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600