STONINGTON, Maine — The Island community is mourning the sudden loss of Doug Edinger of Stonington, who died unexpectedly on Oct. 16 at age 70.
Edinger was the owner and pharmacist of Seaside Pharmacy, the Island’s only drug store. With his wife and daughter, he ran the small pharmacy on School Street since 2014. His sudden passing has left family, friends, community members and customers shocked and grieving.
“The loss of our beloved pharmacist, Doug, has left a deep void in our community,” Stonington resident Leslie Rice posted on the go-fund-me page she set up for the Edinger family. The page raised over $6,000 in just three days.
Edinger was the pharmacist on the Island for nearly two decades, first working at the pharmacy in V&S Variety in Stonington and then in his own store. His wife Linda and daughter Allie are both pharmacy technicians.
Edinger’s independent, family owned and operated drug store was part of a web of businesses and organizations that fill critical health care needs on the island. He worked closely with the Island Medical Center and the Memorial Ambulance Corps’ community paramedicine program.
“We are very sorry to hear of Doug’s passing,” said Walter Reed, executive director of the Memorial Ambulance Corps. “He was a very competent and cooperative pharmacist as well as a fine person.”
Buzz Masters, a longtime Memorial Ambulance Corps volunteer who helped start the community paramedicine program, said Edinger was not only “a cornerstone of our medical care on this island” but “a kind, generally caring person.”
Edinger knew most of his patients by name. During emergencies, Masters said, Edinger was known to open his store at any hour, even in the middle of the night, to help a patient. When Seaside Pharmacy switched to window service only after the COVID-19 pandemic, its parking lot became a small social hub.
“Going to Seaside was more than just getting your medications, it was Doug seeing you, asking how you are,” Masters said. “It’s not just the loss of our pharmacist, it’s the loss of that specific person. He was just remarkable.”
In a 2023 interview with The Ad-Vantages, Edinger said that, despite long hours, changes in the business and his own health concerns, he was proud of his work and thankful for the support of his customers.
“I love what I do …” Edinger said. “Thankfully we have the most loyal customers in the world.”
He added, “These are our friends and extended family and we care deeply about them.”
The future of Seaside Pharmacy is unclear. State law prevents pharmacies from filling prescriptions without a licensed pharmacist. The next closest pharmacies are at Hannaford and Walgreens in Blue Hill.
A sign posted on the window of the store says, “We mourn the loss of our beloved Doug: pharmacist, husband and father. We are unsure how to proceed, so we will be temporarily closed until further notice.”
The sign directed customers to contact their primary care physicians about new prescriptions and refills.
