It's Bill, 12/21/25: December Community
- Desmond Haskell
- Dec 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Loss in the Community
Thanksgiving is the predecessor of our winter holidays. We had our traditional Lubec Thanksgiving with our friends and family.
During our Thanksgiving holiday, reality visited Lubec within days of each other with the passing of two strong, well-liked members of our community.
Suzanne Plaut was active in The Lubec Memorial Library and just about everywhere else. John Rule was a well-known author of seven books and the reporter of Lubec’s news for Eastport’s Quoddy Tides.
Writers, Friends, and Memories
With the writing of my It’s Bill!! blog, I had been asked to attend a local writers’ group that meets in The Lubec Brewing Co after hours. Our writers' group is affiliated with the MWPA (Maine Writers and Poets Association). John was the co-chair of the group.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, John was doing double duty by attending the Lubec Town Meeting previous to our writers’ group, leaving the town meeting a bit early. John came in and sat next to me. Drinking beer, we talked about our writing while getting wonderfully sidetracked with our personal anecdotes. John was in fine form, leading the way, involving all of us with our own quirky humor.
John's Sudden Passing
The following Sunday, November 30, while at the Brewery, John mentioned he wasn’t feeling well and was going to his doctor on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the doctor advised tests. John passed quietly at home on Thursday, Thanksgiving.
On Saturday, December 27, there will be a memorial for John at Lubec Brewery, where John has regaled us with his stories and will be fondly remembered by all of Lubec.
Suzanne’s Legacy
Suzanne came to the Lubec area in the late ’60s with many others who were discovering the Real Downeast and the quiet charm here. Suzanne soon settled herself in the Lubec community and became involved in the (old) Lubec Library, where she was active for over 30 years.
Suzanne not only worked in the old library but was involved in the construction of our current Lubec Memorial Library. She had a special place in her heart for children in the library. Concurrently, she became involved with establishing The Friends Meeting in Whiting and building the Meetinghouse.
We were at Quaker meeting on the Sunday just after her passing. We were privileged to be with her family and friends.
A memorial service was held this past Saturday afternoon in the Lubec school gymnasium for Suzanne. The service started with two children playing violin, followed by another child playing piano. Family members and friends shared their stories and memories. After the service, we all gathered in the cafeteria for refreshments, slides, and more memories while children played table games set up for them.
Patricia’s Fall and Recovery
On Tuesday morning, December 9, I had just finished my outpatient physical therapy in Machias when I received a call from Patricia. She had fallen in her home office and had just called the Lubec ambulance. I met the ambulance at the Emergency Room of the Downeast Community Hospital in Machias. She had broken her right hip.
On Wednesday evening, the surgeon inserted a pin in her hip, starting Patricia’s recovery in the hospital. Home on Friday, Patricia’s goal is to have the smoothest and fastest recovery on record. We are on track, helping each other help each other.
We celebrated my birthday last night at Water Street Tavern with friends.
