Beverly Bishop Obituary

Beverly Alden Bishop

Beverly Alden Bishop, age 83, of Castine, Maine, passed away peacefully on

Friday, May 23, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Bev is survived by her

sister Barbara Bishop Mennell and two nephews, John and Dan, along with their extended

families.

Bev was born on August 19, 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri and is predeceased by

her loving parents, Daniel Sanborn Bishop and Florence Alden Johnston. Bev attended

Glendale Grade School, Kirkwood High School, Texas Christian University (BA), St. Louis

University, and Webster University (MS Media Studies 1977). She received 4 degrees

including Masters degrees in Economics and Marketing.

In school, Bev was always the class president, the team captain, or the club

leader. She was a champion swimmer and competed in the junior Olympics when she

was 16.

Bev grew up in a very politically aware family as her father was a syndicated Editorial

Cartoonist (Night Rider) with the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The exposure to world events

likely helped influence Bev to become the advocate she was for many worthy causes. She

was very passionate about human rights issues, protested against the Vietnam war, and

stood up to protest for Civil Rights. When Bev thought people needed to listen and be

aware, she had no problem informing them. She spoke her mind without hesitation. Ask

anyone who knew her, Bev was a force of nature.

Bev was also successful in business. She was a partner in a company named Proud and

helped to sell advertisements, which made the company extremely successful. Bev then

went on to join another woman-owned company, Lady Smith Limited, which helped

create and publish cookbooks in the Pacific Northwest. Bev was also an adjunct professor

of media studies/marketing at Webster University in St. Louis from 1983–2005. Bev also

became a licensed paramedic in St. Louis and was a volunteer EMT with the Bagaduce

Ambulance Corps.

Bev was an avid outdoors person, hiker, sailor, and gardener. She was also a pet lover and

an accomplished cook.

Bev loved unique adventurous trips that took her off the beaten path. She

climbed 18 peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation and traveled the world extensively. She

traveled across China and Nepal with sherpas. She roamed the world's jungles searching

for wildlife. She stayed with the Maasai in Africa, and traveled upriver to visit other

tribes. Bev mushed sled dogs across frozen glaciers and fly-fished in Patagonia. Her last

big adventure was with her dear friend Diana Bernard. They traveled to the Antarctic to

see the penguins and whales. She never shied away from an adventure because she never

wanted to miss out on a unique and unexpected life experience.

Bev's daily routine gave her a sense of order and control. Yet, she was one of the most

adventurous free spirits who lived without boundaries. Bev ignored obstacles that might

have caused others to hesitate or to give up. She was not held back by financial

limitations, social convention, or fear of the unknown. Bev's projects and thought

process helped others think outside the box along with her.

In Castine, Bev helped guide and mentor the many MMA students she fostered over the

years. Many of them continued to keep in touch with Bev through their adult lives.

As one looks around Castine, it is easy to see without looking too far, something that was

either built, or inspired, by Bev Bishop. Some instances include providing a workshop in

her basement to make paddle boards or create pottery. She envisioned and

implemented a place to swap books at The Book Boat, helped spruce up

the Castine Visitor Center with a Lighthouse to display brochures, and gathered a team to

build community sitting swings at Fort Madison and the backshore beach.

She promoted expanding bird and plant habitats and was on the Board of Directors of the

Downeast Chapter of the Maine Audubon Society. Bev was instrumental in

starting the Castine Touring Company with other dedicated community members.

Bev was the Visual Arts Chair of Castine Arts Association for years and started "Art of …"

series, including Flyfishing, Quilting, Locker Rug Hooking, Zen Tangles, Batik Scarfs, Nuno

Felting, Paddleboards, Woodworking, and Photography.The Art of Adventure series

included Museum Mania and cooking classes.

Bev had many more community projects in mind. She is one of the brains behind

the Castine Rowing Company, which is to be launched this summer. And, as recently as

this spring, she was recruiting friends to help reimagine the Dyce's Head Lighthouse

keeper's house as an Airbnb run by the town, to promote tourism and raise town funds.

Bev loved the water and boating. She was a Midwest Sailing Champion, racing two or

three times every weekend on the Great Lakes of Michigan for 18 years with her sailing

partner Ralph Coffee. In Castine, Bev made her own wooden kayak, "Precious", and

encouraged a large group of friends to meet for a weekly paddle. She loved being the

captain and traveling on overnight cruises with friends on her boat "Tortoise." In her

younger years she loved to sail and participated in many sailing races. She accumulated

several sailing trophies.

In Castine, Bev put together a kayaking group, using her own small boat trailer, which

was rigged to carry 6–8 boats, allowing 10 to 15 people to travel up to an hour's

drive every week to explore many of the lakes, rivers, and harbors in the area.

Her love of good food and conversation was a perfect combination, with Bev's Liver &

Onion and Meatloaf Cookoff parties gaining legendary status.

Bev was an active, leading contributing member in every community she has

been associated with and strongly believed in "giving back." Bev meant so much to so

many people: a mentor, a teacher, and a friend. She will be greatly missed and forever

loved.

A memorial gathering for Bev will be held early this summer.

Donations in Bev's memory may be made to Castine Touring Company, PO Box 705,

Castine, ME 04421.