Obituary: Nelson David “Dave” Stevens
Dave Stevens, longtime Chebeague Island resident, dies at 78
Chebeague Island, Maine – Nelson David “Dave” Stevens, a lifelong islander who spent more than four decades helping neighbors with engines, boats and civic affairs, died on September 21, 2026. He was 78. Stevens’s death is a loss to a community that knew him as a mechanic, volunteer firefighter, and friend who always had a story to share.
Stevens was born on January 6, 1948, in Belmont, Massachusetts, to parents Hermine and Nelson Stevens. He grew up in Massachusetts but returned to Maine each summer to spend time with family on Chebeague Island. After moving to Yarmouth, where he raised his family and could commute to the island, he married Cheryl, his wife of 35 years, and settled permanently on Chebeague.
The couple’s two children are Jessica Wallace (who lives with her husband Adam and their children Henry and Olivia) and David Stevens (who lives with his wife Kathryn and their children William and Sofia). Dave’s parents and two brothers – George and Alan – had predeceased him.
A skilled mechanic, Stevens opened Stevens Mechanical Services in 1995, a repair shop that served the island’s vehicles for 11 years. Though he enjoyed working on cars, his favorite work came later in life at Chebeague Island Boatyard, where he served as a marine mechanic. The island’s residents still recall him with a smile, pointing to the garage, the boat or Doughty’s Market as the places where he could be found.
Stevens’s own pride was the 1971 Grand Banks wooden motor trawler, Luca. “Every time we went out to sea, the whole crew knew that Luca was a piece of history,” one neighbor told the paper. The trawler became the vessel that carried Dave and Cheryl on countless cruises along the coast, from Schoodic Point to Cape Cod. Their adventures were often narrated in “t-shirts” that chronicled their journeys.
A devoted dog owner, Dave had a long line of English Cocker Spaniels that followed him to the island and on board Luca. He was also known for a mischievous streak that traced back to his youth riding a Triumph motorcycle in Portland.
Beyond his trades, Stevens was a civic leader. He served as president of the Chebeague Transportation Company and played a key role in lobbying for the island’s secession from Cumberland County. He chaired the Board of Adjustment and Appeals and sat on the Coastal Waters Commission. In the volunteer fire department, he held the rank of lieutenant for many years, often lending his mechanical expertise to emergency response vehicles.
“The people on Chebeague would turn to him for a tow or a mechanical fix, and he never said no,” said one longtime friend. “He was the heartbeat of the community.”
Stevens’s sudden passing has left a quiet void in the island’s day‑to‑day life. The community is remembering him with a celebration of life scheduled for October 24 at 1 p.m. in the Chebeague Community Church, followed by a reception. Arrangements are being handled by Conroy‑Tully Walker Cremation, Funeral, and Gathering Center at 300 Allen Avenue, Portland. In lieu of flowers, attendees are encouraged to make donations to the Chebeague Fire & Rescue Department in honor of the volunteer firefighter’s legacy.
The obituary’s family note describes Dave as having “a twinkle in his eye, mischievous humor, and a heart of gold.” He will be remembered not only for his technical skill but for the warmth and generosity that he offered to neighbors, friends, and family alike.
