July312006 David Stainton, community leader David Merriman Stainton, a The named her Nautilus, since she the 36-foot Crocker-design ketch, the coast, where a fog-bound Cranberry Island resident, com- required constant bailing. Arabella, which David bought in barge carried them through a munity leader and the owner of Mr. Stainton's love of the Rhode Island and moved up the downpour and to a new life on Cranberry Island Boatyard whose mountains, especially in winter, canal to Lake Champlain one fall. Cranberry Island. The early years design for his Western Way 19 also dates to his boyhood. Army Lilo's interest in ski racing led were tough, as the couple delighted many, died peacefully at surplus equipment allowed him them to Cochran's Ski Area, a bounced from rented home to Eastern Maine Medical Center and his brother to ride the rope tow small, family-owned facility that boathouse, and struggled to Monday night, July 31, after a six- up Tar Young Hill, near Ithaca, and appealed greatly to Mr. Stainton's become part of the community. week battle with leukemia. He skid down the icy slopes they had sense of community. When he (They're still "from away.") In was 72. packed earlier with their long, took up bicycle racing, he built his 1990 they moved into a house Mr. In many ways, Mr. Stainton wooden skis. In Maine, Mr. own bike from the frame up, and Stainton designed and built, and already found his piece of heaven Stainton found a second home and quickly became one of the nation's business at the boatyard continued when he and his wife, Barbara, another group of good friends in best riders in his age group. to climb. Last year CIBY stored moved to Great Cranberry 21 Carrabassett Valley, where he Mr. Stainton built his first over 50 boats and launched three years ago. He loved island life, awaited opening day at Sugarloaf boat, a 32-foot raised-deck cutter Western Way 19s and two where residents depended on each USA with childlike enthusiasm. In of his design, in the back yard in Western Way 10s, a sailing and other - and seaworthy boats - 1952, Mr. Stainton graduated from Williston. But first he had to build rowing boat Mr. Stainton refined. for their survival. Northfield Mount Herman, a a big enough shop, equip it, and The 19-footer is a star attraction Mr. Stainton served as a select- boarding school in western on the shore. He lived in Williston construct the mold he would year after year at the Maine man for the Town of Cranberry Massachusetts where he ran cross with his first wife, Carol cover with fiberglass to make the Boatbuilder's Show in Portland. Isles and as president of The country and skied whenever possi- Bergstrom, whom he later hull. Two years later, in 1980, Mr. Stainton will be dearly Futures Group, an organization he ble. His mountaineering experi- divorced. Clarity emerged from the shop, missed by the residents of helped found almost a decade ence continued as a member of the After a brief stint in the was trucked 20 miles, and Cranberry Island, his friends at ago. He greatly admired the lob- Outing Club at Cornell University, Army's counter-intelligence unit, launched in Lake Champlain. In Sugarloaf, and legions of others in stermen who fished the local where he graduated from the archi- Mr. Stainton returned to architec- 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Stainton Maine and Vermont. He is sur- waters, and adored the agile, tecture school in 1957. (His father ture in Vermont. He met his sec- joined Clarity's owners in the vived by his wife, Barbara; his handsome boats they employed. taught theater at Cornell and many ond wife, Barbara Bornemann French Riviera to celebrate her daughter, Lilo; her husband, The classic lines of his Western members of his family, including a partner in sailing, skiing, and 20th birthday with a Timothy Shiro; his sister, Kate; his Way 19 pay tribute to Maine's his mother and his siblings, attend- eventually life on Cranberry Mediterranean cruise. brother, John; and their spouses, working vessels. ed the university.) Mr. Stainton Island - after he borrowed her After another few years of children and grandchildren. He is Born in Ithaca, N.Y., Mr. joined an architectural firm in boat and broke the tiller. (His architecture, Mr. Stainton finally predeceased by his mother, Stainton's interest in boats began Vermont, where he could hike the carefully crafted replacement, made the move to Maine and the Helena, his father, Walter, and when he was a Boy Scout and state's tallest peak, Mount complete with the pre-existing sea. A magazine ad led them to many beloved cats, including served as waterfront director at Mansfield, and ski down before warp, softened her heart.) The Cranberry Island, where they Mary Jane, who died just days Camp Barton on Cayuga Lake. As heading to work. He sailed on couple were married in November bought the boatyard in 1985. The before Mr. Stainton was admitted a teenager, he and his brother Lake Champlain and flew his sin- 1967; two years later, their daugh- couple loaded their lives into a to the hospital. She was at least 17. restored a National One Design gle-engine Cessna from a grass ter, Lilo, was born. moving van. which wound its A memorial service is planned that they sailed for several years. landing strip in an apple orchard The family sailed together on way along Route 2 and down to for later this month.