William G. Ambrose, a former owner of Bradco Chair Co. in Lisbon, who was known by many as “The Chair Man,” died Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 77.
Mr. Ambrose was the go-to guy in the North Yarmouth area for antique chair repairs. There’s a sign outside his home on Walnut Hill Road that points to a barn, where he repaired and refinished antique wooden chairs for more than a decade. He used techniques such as caning, rush seat-weaving and spline. A blog post from 2010 shows examples of his work ranging from a caned Victorian chair to a porch rocker with a rush seat and back.
“People would drop off chairs and pick them up. It was a constant stream of chairs,” said his daughter Rachel Ambrose of South Portland. “The pictures on his iPad are of chairs – chairs in the snow, chairs in the grass – just chairs. His business card said ‘The Chair Man.’ His license plate said ‘CHAIRS.’ For any toast, it was always ‘Chairs’ instead of cheers.”
Mr. Ambrose had plenty to celebrate. In the 1980s, he left corporate America to pursue his dream to run his own business. In 1986, he and his wife, Priscilla, bought Concepts in Comfort, a furniture manufacturer in Portland. Soon after, they bought Bradco Chair Co., a maker of fine hardwood tables and chairs in Lisbon.
Mr. Ambrose built tables and chairs for families, restaurants and libraries throughout Maine and New England. The couple employed roughly 25 people. In 1998, he was named Maine Small Business Person of the Year.
“He had some real success,” his daughter said. “It was sheer hard work. He’s wasn’t particularly a visionary. He just worked. He created very good relationships with people. People liked working with him because he was so direct, very honest and straightforward. He was easy to buy from. He was the real deal.”
Mr. Ambrose retired in 2002. Soon after, he started repairing chairs at home.
Mr. Ambrose was a loving husband and a dedicated father to their four children. His daughter choked up Friday recalling a man who worked hard his whole life to provide a good life for his family.
“He was a really good dad. He was really supportive and very fair and loving,” his daughter said. “He expected a lot, but it’s good. You always knew where you stood with him. He was a really good dad. Not everyone has that. I’m really lucky.”
Mr. Ambrose was described Friday as an active guy who kept busy doing the things he loved. He had a passion for gardening. He had large vegetable and flower gardens in North Yarmouth and Friendship, where his family has a cottage. His daughter said he raised plants from seeds by the exact method his father used. He canned green beans and at least 12 quarts of tomatoes every year.
Mr. Ambrose played bridge every Wednesday with a group of his friends. He also had a passion for tennis. He was captain of the Net Prophets mixed doubles team, which went to the national tournament in Orlando in 2005. He played regularly at Foreside Fitness and Tennis in Falmouth. His daughter said he taught many people how to play.
Mr. Ambrose lived life to its fullest. On July 1, he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. He spent his last weeks surrounded by loved ones in Friendship, where the family has summered for six generations. His daughter said he cut back on tennis and sailing but went to church and joined the family for lunches and dinners.
A funeral Mass is planned for Oct. 9 at the First Congregational Church in North Yarmouth.
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