People of the Coast: Mary Coombs, Bailey Island

Mary Coombs, 46, is a Bailey Island native and the longtime manager of Cook’s Lobster and Ale House. Casual, friendly and down-to-earth is how family members and fishermen alike describe her, a bubbly and animated person whose facial expressions convey what she’s thinking. Coombs is a passionate and dedicated volunteer, especially when it comes to supporting fishermen and fishermen’s organizations in her community and beyond. Her brother Herman is a lobsterman and member of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association board. When she was growing up, her world was filled with fishermen.

Coombs is well-known by seemingly everyone in Harpswell, and on Orrs and Bailey Islands. A few years ago T-shirts that read “I know Mary” on the front and “Do you know Mary?” on the back were made in her honor and sold for a local fuel assistance fundraiser. All the shirts quickly sold out. Monique Coombs, Mary’s sister-in-law, said the popularity of the shirts was probably due to the fact that “Mary is very genuine, sweet and thoughtful, and loves people and doing things for people. She is also hilarious and tough at the same time. Don’t think she won’t give lobstermen crap when she has to!” Coombs’ links to fishermen and fishing families explain why she is so involved with fundraising. “I have lobstermen and groundfishermen in my family, so I always got to see firsthand when things went well and also when they did not go well. I saw how devastating it can be when fishing families face tragedy, whether it’s due to illness, or when fishermen are unable to work because of regulations or because they are injured or if there is a death or a fire.

When this happened, it didn’t just hit home, it was home,” she said.Several years ago, during a fundraiser held for the family of a lobsterman who had passed away, Mary Coombs realized it was time for her to get more involved. Knowing all too well that fishermen do not have the employee benefits, insurance, vacation time, retirement, or other types of assistance offered at other jobs, she directed her efforts toward filling the void. “It really got me thinking that there should always be funds available when devastating things happen to fishing families, so there is less to worry about during hard times. My brother is a lobsterman, so I asked him his opinion, and his response was something like ‘If anyone could make it work it would be you.’ So I set out to do just that,” she said. Coombs hit the ground running shortly after that conversation and has not stopped since.

Today she is actively involved in raising money for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, the Harpswell Fuel Assistance program, and the Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance (MLCA) Lobstermen’s Relief Fund, and all three are going strong. “I wasn’t ever really asked to be involved in things, I guess I sort of just volunteered,” she said. “My sister-in-law works for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association so I try to attend their events and share information about them. I am helping on the committee to bring back the Harpswell Lobster Boat Races too, and I also help with planning for the MLCA event. Outside of the fishing stuff, I volunteer every Wednesday during the school year to teach swimming to students at the Harpswell Community School.”“Mary’s efforts helping organizations like the MLCA and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association are so appreciated,” Monique Coombs said. “Even if she’s not directly involved she’s always sharing information and telling everyone what’s going on.

If there’s a place for her to help, Mary is there. I hope there is a ‘Mary’ in every fishing community in Maine.”Coombs said that for her, being active in her fishing community is “just the right thing to do.” She credits her grandmother for instilling this concept in her at a young age. “My grandmother and her sisters always told me ‘If you can help someone you should. Your time is just as generous as your money.’ I can remember when my older sister and I would spend the night with my grandparents as kids,” she recalled. “We would wake up and we would have to go to the lady’s house across the street who was in a wheelchair to help her make her breakfast, brush her hair and help get her ready for the day.

I learned back then that helping others is rewarding, and the right thing to do.”Coombs was quick to note that she is not alone in her efforts and could not do what she does without the community backing her. “I am just one of many who are involved and care about fishermen and the fishing communities. Most of the people I ask for help or donations are so giving. They want the events to be a big success as much as I do. It helps to know we are all in this together,” she said.