SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Jerry Angier, a prominent New England-based railroad preservationist and author, primarily involving the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad (BAR), died June 19 at his home near Portland, Maine. He was 82.
Born March 1, 1942, in Washington, D.C., Gilman “Jerry” Angier Jr., attended school in Providence, R.I., summered with his family in Hyannis Port, Mass., and earned a degree in speech and broadcasting from Boston’s Emerson College in 1966. After an initial stint in public broadcasting, he settled into a long career in the life insurance and financial planning profession, first in Cincinnati and later in Portland.
Angier authored three books about the BAR, including “Bangor & Aroostook, the Maine Railroad,” with co-author Herb Cleaves, (Flying Yankee, 1986), “Bangor & Aroostook Railroad in Color” (Morning Sun, 2004), and “Bangor & Aroostook: The Life of a Maine Railroad Tradition,” again with Cleaves (Fleet Graphics, 2009). He also wrote articles on the BAR for both Trains and Classic Trains.
Angier maintained memberships in a number of railroad organizations, including The Mileage List, Cincinnati Railroad Club, Lexington Group in Transportation, Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners, and the 470 Railroad Club, for which he managed several rare-mileage excursions.
Upon retirement, he volunteered as a car host on Amtrak’s Downeaster and at the Ocean Gateway visitors center on Portland’s waterfront. Angier and his wife, Nancy, were avid sailing enthusiasts.
Asked about this interest in railroads, Angier traced it first to his childhood Lionel trains, and later to a 12th-birthday cab ride between Providence and Boston on the New Haven Railroad. A visit to Bangor a few years later sealed his interest in the Bangor & Aroostook, which ceased operations in 2003.
Angier is survived by Nancy — they were married for 46 years —as well as two sisters and a brother. A memorial service will be held Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Portland Symphony, 85 Exchange Street, Portland, ME 04101, or to the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, 97 Cross Road, Alna, ME 04535.
Sad loss of a great person and excellent author.
(WW&F has a useful website.) JJ
I agree. He was also a great friend.