HONORING GREG FARMER

You may remember Greg Farmer as the man with the Polaroid camera around his neck and a mug of coffee in his hand. Every August he came to the island and drove a red pickup truck with his loyal dog, Eddie, in the passenger seat. He loved taking Polaroids of passersby and giving them the pictures. He took hundreds of photos that he never kept—of tourists, native Islanders, and his friends and family. Greg began visiting Beaver Island as a child in the 1970s and continued the tradition with his family starting in the early 2010s. He always stayed at the same place: Isle Haven, where they eventually rented out all four units to fit family and friends. He even lived briefly on the island near the airport. He drove the entirety of the island every summer, exploring each nook and cranny. He made friends among f ishermen and mechanics. He loved catching the sunset at Donegal Bay and walking among the stones in the Circle Drive area. His love for the island and its history was among the most profound of his life.

Gregory Campbell Farmer died on October 24 in his home, in the company of his beloved canine companion, Eddie, who followed him shortly after. He leaves behind his three children, Katie, Maggie (Basil), and Betsy (Sarah); his nephew, Forrest (Linnea) and their children Leeland, Olivia, and Eleanor; and his siblings, Ned, Kate, and Andy.

He was a student of history, a phenomenal cook, and a keen-eyed photographer. His gallery of art remains on the walls, and his garden is sleeping ahead of the next planting season. Next time you drive to Donegal Bay, think of him in his truck, all his kids loaded in the back and his dog at his side. His pictures may be among you—in frames or tucked into wallets, a sliver of time and feeling. We hope those on the island may remember him as he remembered the island: a thing of beauty and depth, leaving a mark on every soul he encountered.