Angus Norman MacPhail


Angus MacPhail.jpg


Angus Norman MacPhail
July 17, 1947
July 2, 2021




Angus Norman MacPhail was born July 17, 1947, and left this world in the first hour of July 2, 2021. Born in Washington, D.C., Angus was the son of Donald and Elinor and the brother of Bruce and Joan. During his childhood, his family also lived in Europe and North Africa, and throughout his life, he carried a love for traveling and exploring. He particularly loved France, and was able to return there several times. Angus was a combat veteran who later worked as a carpenter, lobsterman, gallery owner, and newspaper editor, among other pursuits. He was also a self-taught artist, and for nearly the past two decades, he was proprietor/artist of Seaweed Studios. He painted plates and pots with riotously joyful colors, and developed his own distinctive style of painting ocean creatures, nautical motifs, and garden scenes. He created vibrant mosaics using reclaimed furniture, found objects, and his own beautiful handmade tiles. Even though he was well acquainted with sadness, his art was filled with warmth and color and humor, and it brought joy and beauty to many. Angus embraced the charm that could be found in experimentation, imperfection, and a little bit of chaos. ~

He always loved the ocean, and could be found every summer sailing around the coast of Maine or tinkering on one of a series of sailboats, always with a dog or two at his heels. His lifelong love of the sea started in Pocasset, Massachusetts, where he spent childhood summers. He passed this love of salt water on to his children, who will always remember their time spent on boats with their father.
Angus loved good food, and made cooking look effortless. He was one of the funniest, most keenly intelligent people one could be lucky enough to meet. He loved late nights of talking and laughing and listening to music. He had a unique perspective on the world; he was ever-intrigued by people and their intricacies, and he voiced his impressions emphatically––his children will always be able to hear his voice and have a laugh at what he would have thought. Though he had cantankerous moments, anyone lucky enough to know him saw his joie de vivre, his generosity, his deep loyalty, and his love for his family. He will be remembered every day by his children Genevra, Phoebe, Cameron, Alastair, and Elinor; their spouses Chris, Todd, Agathe, Gabriela and Alex; their mothers, Rosamond and Sally; and his five grandchildren Zara, Juniper, Fiona, Roman, and Ragna. Angus was particularly close with his sister, Joan, and his nephew Duncan. He leaves behind his long-term partner, Melissa, and his beloved dog, Bea. He will also be missed by extended family and many friends.

Angus was looking forward to having his children and grandchildren together this summer following the isolation of the past many months. They will still gather to honor and remember him. There will be a lot of tears and a lot of laughter. Mostly, there will be gratitude that they were lucky enough to have him, even if their time with him was too short. Please remember Angus when, after time away from the ocean, you return, and you first smell the salt in the air. In Angus’s memory, please consider a donation to Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, Maine or Gosnell Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine.~



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