Fred Augustus Clough III

Fred A. Clough III, 78, of Kennebunk, ME, formerly of Rockland, ME, passed away in the early morning hours on 30 December 2023.

He was born 16 September 1945, at Central Maine Hospital in Lewiston, ME to Fred A. Clough Jr. and Josephine Bernice Kantauskis.

Fred's intrepid nature was evident even as a young man. In the summer of 1957, at the age of 12, he biked 80 miles from Augusta to Sugarloaf Mountain over two days, embracing the adventure alongside his cousin. His sister also recounted how she had slipped off a boat launch when she was about seven into deep waters. Without hesitation, Fred dove in and kept her afloat until help arrived.

Before his family had relocated to Cape Elizabeth in 1961, Fred attended Gould Academy (Bethel) and Stephens High (Rumford). Fred was a member of the Cape Elizabeth High School ski team and in 1962, he began dating Carol Elizabeth Rivers – the love of his life. He would later describe this period as "The Beginning of Forever." He graduated from CEHS with Carol in 1963.

They both attended the University of Maine. As a Sophomore Owl (a prestigious non-academic honor), Fred promoted school spirit and assisted incoming first-year students. He was also a member of Sigma Chi.

Fred and Carol announced their engagement in 1966 during their senior year.

Following graduation in June 1967 with a B.A. in Economics, Fred and Carol married in August 1967 at what was then the Chestnut Street Methodist Church in Portland, ME. The memorable celebration hosted 159 guests while the grand total for the wedding reception came in at a whopping $313.06.

Fresh out of college, he landed his first job at the Humble Oil Company in New York. He soon pivoted and joined the U.S. Air Force. After Officer Candidate School (OCS), he was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Lackland AFB, Texas. Through competitive examination, he was subsequently assigned to South Ruislip Air Station in England, where their son Fred IV was born.

In 1971, he was reassigned to McClellan AFB just outside of Sacramento, CA. Shortly thereafter, he and Carol moved to Roseville, CA with Fred IV, a 1951 Bentley MK VI, and a Siamese cat named Tubby. Their son Andrew was born later that year.

Upon completing his Air Force career as a Captain in January 1972, Fred and Carol returned to Cape Elizabeth. After a brief association with the John C. Paige Company, the family moved to Augusta, ME and Fred founded Pen & Inc., an advertising and public relations agency.

In 1978, he and the family moved to Georgetown, MA, having been recruited by Salomon North America in Peabody, MA. He became the Director of Marketing, overseeing advertising, public relations, merchandising, communications, promotional, and competition activities.

He would go on to spend more than 15 years in the ski industry serving in various positions, including a five-year stint as President of Dynamic North America in the mid-1980´s.

He earned his MBA from New Hampshire College in 1990 and completed a Strategic Marketing Management program at Stanford University. He taught Marketing at North Shore Community College.

His immensely creative side resulted in “Sal T. Dog," his first children’s book, which was published by Down East in 1990. He was also an active freelance writer, contributing multiple articles to Snow Country, Ski, Ski Business, New England Game and Fish, as well as Management Review.

A true lover of the outdoors, Fred was also a Registered Maine Guide for over 25 years, having navigated the challenging examination and testing process required to obtain a license in Maine – one of the most difficult states in the US to do so.

Fred had taken up fly fishing at a young age with guidance from his father, and this life-long passion took him to some of the most beautiful spots in the world, including: England, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Monte Carlo, Argentina, South Africa, China, and Mongolia.

He loved boats and spent many years with Carol sailing up and down the Maine Coast in a 30-foot Pearson named “Windigo.” He loved reading – particularly books by Wallace Stegner. And as he was always up for a challenge, in 2013, he suited up and did his first skydive with his grandson, Cameron.

Should his life have been a single sheet of paper, he certainly made the most of it, leaving scarce room for anything else around the edges. Fred always did things his way and he filled the “dash” with a life well-lived. He will be missed by many and in the end, there can be no greater compliment.

Fred was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Carol Elizabeth Rivers; his parents, Fred A. Clough Jr., and Josephine Bernice Kantauskis; his brother, Jeffory Clough; his father-in-law, Charles G. Rivers and mother-in-law, Mabel Esther Erhardt; sister-in-law, Becky Clough; brother-in-law, Charles "Skip" Rivers Jr.; and nephew, Mark Rivers.

He is survived by sons Fred (Deborah) and Andrew (Tynlee); grandsons Cameron and Samuel; granddaughters Emma and Julia; siblings Kate, Scott, and David (Sachiko); sister-in-law Joyce; nieces Karen, Miyoko, Mamiko, and Mikaela (TJ); nephews Ian (Flora) and Kotaro (Morgan) and cousins Jan, Joseph, Jeannie, Judy, Martha and Peter.

A memorial service will be held in Spring 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to an animal care organization close to the donor's heart.