Dick Broom. (Photo courtesy Sharon Broom)

Sometimes journalists strike fear in their interview subjects.

Are we going to say the right thing in the right way, and will it be reflected accurately?

For more than 20 years, Mount Desert Island (MDI) was lucky to have Dick Broom as one of the most friendly, insightful, inquisitive, and precise reporters from the Bar Harbor Times and Mount Desert Islander.

Dick covered many park issues, from visitation numbers to storm damage to emergencies in the park. John Kelly, Acadia National Park’s management assistant said, “Dick covered every aspect of Acadia National Park for almost 15 years. He was always a consummate professional, writing news stories that were accurate, thorough, and impartial. Most of all, he was a kind gentleman whom I will always remember as a friend.”

Dick also covered how MDI towns interfaced with the park, including meetings of the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission, and discussions about topics such as fire management and housing partnerships.

Earl Brechlin, former communications director for Friends of Acadia and former editor of the Bar Harbor Times and Mount Desert Islander, said, “Dick Broom was the consummate community journalist. His dedication to telling the stories of others was second to none. With an unassuming style, he always kept the focus on the topic at hand, never on himself.

His body of work all over Mount Desert Island helped educate and motivate multiple generations of informed citizens.”

With credit to the Mount Desert Islander for arms-length coverage, Dick did not report on Friends of Acadia’s programs during the nearly 14 years that his wife, Sharon Broom, worked as Friends of Acadia’s Development Officer. However, we always enjoyed his visits to the office with a golden retriever leading the way—first Eden and then Lizzie.

Dick and Sharon Broom during a visit to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in Arizona. (Photo courtesy Sharon Broom)

Dick loved the national parks, and his vacation plans with Sharon often centered on park visits. He could often be seen exploring Acadia’s trails with his canine companions. MDI’s ocean shorelines and freshwater ponds were favorite destinations for swims and games of fetch. Dick also authored two mystery novels, “Death Once Removed” and “The Gandhi Lodge,” the second of which prominently features a beaver lodge in the park. Undoubtedly, the hours spent around Acadia’s ponds spurred Dick’s imagination.

Dick was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2020. He was devoted to the MDI community and continued to write for the Islander right up to his death in early May of 2024. As the disease progressed, Dick used adaptive software and assistance from Sharon for logging into Zoom meetings, typing articles, and dialing phone numbers.

We at Friends of Acadia are grateful to have known Dick personally and professionally. Our hearts go out to Sharon, our friend and former colleague, and Lizzie, Dick’s “fuzzface” sidekick. Dick gracefully documented Acadia’s issues of the day, and his words will live on for future generations.

STEPHANIE CLEMENT is Friends of Acadia’s Vice President of Conservation.