US EditionOne of World's Oldest Lobster Fishers, Virginia Oliver, Dies in Maine at 105
Virginia Oliver was Maine’s oldest licensed lobster trapper and worked alongside her family managing about 400 traps during the lobstering season, inspiring many with her independence and resilience.
- On Wednesday, Virginia Oliver of Rockland, Maine, died at 105 in a nearby hospital, the family obituary said Monday.
- Born on June 6, 1920, Virginia Oliver began trapping lobsters at age 8 with her father and older brother and was for years Maine's oldest licensed lobster trapper.
- She rose long before dawn and used menhaden to bait traps, piloting the boat Virginia while she and Max checked about 400 traps three days a week during May–November.
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills posted that her death prompted tributes and the Maine Lobster Festival called her a living piece of the state's maritime history; books and documentaries honored her life, and a graveside service is planned in June.
- When she began, lobsters sold for 28 cents a pound and now fetch $6.14, about 22 times higher, reflecting the lobster industry’s shift from working‑class food to a pricey delicacy.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Virginia Oliver , one of the world’s oldest lobster fishers, who captured crustaceans in Maine for nearly a century, died at the age of 105. Born in Rockland, Maine, Oliver began catching lobsters at the age of 8 with his father and older brother, at a time when few women worked in water in a male-dominated industry. She fell in love with the business and became known as the “crayfish lady” for her dedication to traps for decades. “I like to do …
The Hamilton Spectator
WCBI TV | Your News LeaderMaine’s ‘lobster lady’ Virginia Oliver, who worked decades in the lobster industry, dies at 105
Virginia Oliver, one of the oldest lobster fishers in the world who trapped crustaceans in Maine for nearly a century, has died. She was 105.
Associated Press News
Maine's 'lobster lady' Virginia Oliver, who worked decades in the lobster industry, dies at 105
Virginia Oliver, one of the world's oldest lobster fishers, has died at 105. Born in Rockland, Maine, she began trapping lobsters at age 8 with her father and brother.
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