Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKLAND - Øistein "Lee" Lie-Nielsen, 96, died November 30, 2004 at Penobscot Bay Medical Center.
Born in Oslo, Norway, September 10, 1908, he was one of six children of Christine and Johan Lie-Nielsen. He was educated in the Bestum School, where his father was headmaster and founder.
In 1926, at the age of 18, Lie-Nielsen emigrated to America when the chance came to ride a freighter destined for the United States. Shortly after docking in Boston, he found his first job with the Revere Sugar Refinery, earning twenty-five cents an hour. By 1927 he was in Marblehead, Massachusetts teaching sailing. There he met his close friend and lifelong mentor, Francis Herreshoff.
Lie-Nielsen served in the United States Marine Corps until he was honorably discharged in 1929. Since that time he worked in many different jobs and in many different places. He was active in offshore sailing and racing in Marblehead and was a much sought after skipper. He served as the skipper for the Ticonderoga in the fifties, her heyday. He was in the lumber business in Georgia, the wholesale lobster business in Massachusetts, and owned a yacht brokerage in Maine. In 1962 he opened Lee's Boat Shop in Rockland, Maine.
He is best known for building the ninety-two foot ketch Whitehawk, launched in 1978. In 1983 he completed Elizabeth II, an exact replica of Sir Walter Raleigh's original flagship, in Manteo, South Carolina. At the age of 91, in 1999, he returned to Manteo to supervise her refit.
The sea was Lie-Nielsen's lifelong passion. His singular requirement for a home ashore, was to be in view of the sea.
Lie-Nielsen married Margaret Sargent Fisher on May 23, 1951, in Miami, Florida. The family moved to Maine in 1957. She has been his devoted wife for 53 years.
He is survived by his wife and their son, Thomas Lie-Nielsen, of Waldoboro, Maine, as well as six children from previous marriages, including: Johan Lie-Nielsen of Atlanta, Georgia; Peter Lie-Nielsen of Eugene, Oregon; Eric Lie-Nielsen of Juneau, Alaska: Linda Schantz of Cleveland, Ohio; Ann Merritt of PEI; Charlie Lie-Nielsen of Newnan, Georgia; and 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by a brother, Arve Lie-Nielsen, sister, Nanna Hanshus, and several nieces, nephews and cousins, all residing in Norway. He will also be missed by the extended family of friends, sailors, and seafarers whom he met and befriended throughout his long and adventurous life.
Those who wish may make memorial donations to the Marine Corp League Fund, Midcoast Detachment No. 637, c/o Robert A. Clark, Ten Marsh Road, Thomaston, ME 04861
Arrangements are under the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.
Please take a moment to visit Lee's Personal Online Guest Book.