Sam Thorpe, artist
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Artist Sam Thorpe dies at 72
By Diane C. Beaudoin, Townshend Times
TOWNSEND -- A Townsend icon passed away Saturday night.
Much loved artist Samuel Thorpe died at Nashoba Valley Medical Center
following an illness. He was 72.
Thorpe gained celebrity through his artwork. But in addition to his
talent was his equally immense kindness and his great love for
Townsend.
Longtime family friend Shirley Coit, who had known Thorpe for 20 years,
learned of his death at the Townsend United Methodist Church on Sunday
morning. Thorpe and his wife, Louise, were long-time members of the
church on the hill.
"He did an oil painting for Townsend's 250th celebration," she
recalled. "He offered to paint one for the 275th, but I don't know if
he got that far or not."
John Pelletier, a Thorpe neighbor, said, "He lived in Townsend for over
50 years. He served on the Board of Selectmen from 1985 to 1988. He
also served on the Planning Board and the Finance Committee."
Pelletier said Thorpe was a good neighbor. "He did a lot for the town,
he'll be missed."
Thorpe's art gallery is located at his home on Elm Circle, where he
lived. Thorpe purchased the house in 1959.
In the mid 1960s, Thorpe began to exhibit and sell his paintings from
his back porch. In the spring of 1970, Thorpe started building his
studio, with his family's help, which caught the daylight just as his
artist's eye wanted it to.
According to published reports, Thorpe's favorite subjects were sugar
houses, sawmills, and historical ice-cuttings. His favorite paintings
included his ice harvest on Harbor Pond.
Former President George Bush owns a Thorpe. Thorpe's work has hung in
galleries all around the world including one piece that hangs in the
United States Embassy in Vienna. Many other paintings are in private
collections.
Thorpe was commissioned in 1999 by Townsend's Memorial Hall Restoration
Committee to paint an original oil painting of Memorial Hall as it
looked at the close of the 19th century. The painting was auctioned off
by sealed bids with the proceeds going to the restoration effort.
In a series published in the Townsend Times in 1999, Thorpe said, "My
career began and will end here in Townsend. This is where they'll find
me." He estimated that he had painted 2,500 paintings in his career.
Then at the age of 66, he had no plans to retire.
Susan Funaiole, administrative assistant to the town clerk, said "Both
of the Thorpes worked hard for the town."
Resident John Wilder has known Thorpe since the early 1980's. "I was
very active on his campaign for selectman back then," Wilder said.
"Sam was the type of guy you would want in your community," Wilder
said. "Having got to know him and Louise, I can say he was a fine
gentleman. I've spent countless hours sitting in the studio just
talking with him about politics and things about his life."
Wilder recalled when the Thorpes were invited to President Bush's home
in Kennebunkport. "He and his wife received a personal invitation, and
Sam did a painting for him," Wilder said.
"He was just a good old guy, a very peaceful man who was a total joy to
know and to talk to," Wilder concluded.
Sherry Vaughn met Thorpe in Kennebunkport, Maine, in the late 1970's.
"My husband and I were in Maine, which is where we met Sam. He had a
gallery there at the time," Vaughn said. "I could say we discovered him
there, then found out he lived and had a gallery in Townsend where we
also lived."
Vaughn said they became friendly with the Thorpes over the years. "My
husband Bill does scroll work, making clocks and shelves. Sam admired
his work, as we admired his art work," Vaughn said.
This past Christmas, Sherry said she was visiting the Thorpes, and Sam
had one oil painting left of Kennebunkport. "I bought it for my husband
for a Christmas present. It was the last one Sam did of the area," she
said.
"He was such a nice and sweet guy," said Sherry. "He always had a hug
and kiss for me whenever I went to see him and his wife. They are both
lovely, talented people."
"I can honestly say I believe Townsend lost a big piece of its heart on
Saturday when Sam died," she said.
In the 1999 article, Thorpe said, "Am I going to retire? No. As long as
I can paint, I'll keep doing it. For me, it's as important as
breathing. If I couldn't do my art, paint my pictures, create day to
day, I'd probably be a pretty shut down guy. There is an underlying
drive that says I have to paint another picture."
He said at the time that he was happy where he was. "I would do it
again," he said. "After all you do to get there, you really appreciate
where you are when you do get there. At least I do.
"The sad thing is," Thorpe said, "you can't do it twice."