Obituary: George Adams Gilmore
George Adams Gilmore, 91, Remembered as a Naval Engineer, Community Leader, and Family Man
Brunswick, Maine — The Maine community lost a lifelong public servant and devoted family man on Thursday, September 24, 2026, when George Adams Gilmore of Thornton Oaks died at Mid Coast Hospital. He was 91.
Early Years and Education
Born in Portland on April 15, 1935, Gilmore was the eldest son of Martha Senter Gilmore of Brunswick and David William Gilmore, a professor of European languages at Rutgers University in New Jersey. His family split time between the city of New Bergen and summer stays on Birch Island, Maine.
He grew up in Highland Park, New Jersey, and graduated at the top of his class from Highland Park High School in 1952. After high school, he earned a B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute in Glen Cove, Long Island, in 1957.
Military and Professional Career
Gilmore’s early career in the marine field was brief; in 1958 he joined the U.S. Navy. He served in several key positions, including Brigade Commander at the Naval Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island, a two‑year stint as a submarine repair coordinator at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii, and another two years as Damage Control Officer on the destroyer USS Colahan during the Vietnam War.
Following his naval service, he attended Harvard Business School and graduated in 1964. He went on to hold multiple leadership roles in marine design and management, with assignments in Bethesda, Washington, D.C., and New York City. While with Energy Transportation Corporation in New York, he co‑authored a 1980 technical paper on LNG vessels for the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
In 1985, Gilmore moved to Brunswick, Maine, where he managed Senter’s Department Store—an enterprise founded by his grandfather—until the store closed in 1992.
Community Involvement and Personal Life
In Brunswick, Gilmore married Martha Kendall Gilmore. Together, they were active in the Maine State Music Theatre and enjoyed time on Casco Bay and at Mere Point during summer months. He was a long‑time member of First Parish Church and involved in several local organizations, including the Brunswick Rotary Club, Maine Merchants Association, Independence Association, and Brunswick‑Topsham Land Trust.
George predeceased his wife, Martha, who passed away before him. He leaves behind three stepchildren—Kent Black, Daphne Brenner, and Elizabeth Shortsleeve—alongside step‑grandchildren and numerous cousins from the Senter family.
Funeral Arrangements
Friends, neighbors, and family are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, October 17, at 10 a.m. at First Parish Church, 9 Cleaveland Street, Brunswick. A subsequent funeral will be held at 11 a.m. the same day. George will be laid to rest beside Martha at Riverside Cemetery, Brunswick. Memorials and condolences can be shared online at brackettfh.com.
Those who wish to honor George’s life may consider donating to First Parish Church, 9 Cleaveland St., Brunswick, Maine 04011, in lieu of flowers.
George Adams Gilmore’s life was marked by service—whether on a ship, in a classroom, or in the heart of Brunswick’s community. His passing leaves a legacy of dedication, craftsmanship, and generosity that will be remembered by all who knew him.
