Linda L. Bean, a granddaughter of famed out of doors retailer L.L. Bean who grew to become an entrepreneur, philanthropist and conservative activist, has died at age 82.
Bean died Saturday, her enterprise supervisor, Veronika Carlson, confirmed in a written assertion Sunday. No trigger was given.
“Linda was recognized for her superb work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit in addition to her satisfaction and dedication to her residence state of Maine and L.L.Bean, the corporate her grandfather based,” the assertion stated. “Our hearts exit to her household and mates.”
Bean’s grandfather, Leon Leonwood Bean, based the corporate in 1912. It grew by way of its standard catalogue, providing sturdy merchandise corresponding to rubber-bottomed boots that got here with a lifetime assure.
Linda Bean served on the corporate’s board for almost half a century. She additionally purchased lobster dealerships, based the Excellent Maine Lobster model in 2007, and owned normal shops, inns and trip leases on Maine’s central coast, the place she lived in Port Clyde.
She helped lead the trouble to have Maine’s lobster trade licensed as sustainable in 2013 by a London-based nonprofit, the Marine Stewardship Council — a certification that was pulled in 2022 over concern about hurt to whales.
Her philanthropic efforts included supporting LifeFlight of Maine medical helicopters and the Maine Botanical Gardens at Boothbay, in addition to selling the lifetime of early twentieth century illustrator and artist N.C. Wyeth, the daddy of the well-known painter Andrew Wyeth, and preserving the household’s properties.
“Linda Bean beloved the State of Maine. Its coastal communities, islands, and artwork, notably by the Wyeths, had a particular place in her coronary heart,” Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins stated in a written assertion Sunday. “Linda additionally was an astute businesswoman who promoted Maine lobster by way of her eating places. Many a time whereas ready for my airplane in Portland, I had a cup of her well-known lobster stew at her airport restaurant.”
Bean was additionally a giant donor to Republican causes and twice campaigned unsuccessfully for Congress, in 1988 and 1992. She ran as an opponent of abortion rights, homosexual rights laws and gun management, and she or he believed in slicing taxes to spur the economic system.
She additionally supported efforts to repeal a Maine legislation outlawing discrimination primarily based on sexual orientation, and she or he urged the Division of Protection to overturn Obama-era insurance policies permitting transgender people to serve within the army.
In 2017, the Federal Election Fee stated Bean made extreme contributions to a political motion committee she bankrolled to assist Donald Trump’s presidential marketing campaign. That prompted some liberal teams to name for a boycott of L.L. Bean — which she described as harassment by “a small kernel of hardcore bullies out on the left coast, West Coast, in California, attempting to manage what we do, what we purchase, what we promote in Maine.”
Trump got here to her protection, urging his supporters to purchase the corporate’s merchandise.
“Whereas her politics didn’t align with mine, Linda and I discovered frequent floor in our mutual love of our residence state, of the coast of Maine and our working waterfronts, of Maine impressed artwork and of the right Maine lobster roll,” Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, stated in a written assertion. “I loved her firm and admired her enterprise acumen. On behalf of the individuals of Maine, I prolong deep condolences to Linda’s household and family members and to your entire L.L.Bean group.”
No details about survivors was instantly accessible.
