Salsbury Cove, Maine - Robert Gerald Hersey, "Buddy," "Bud," to his family and friends, passed away on Jan. 3, 2026, after a long battle with cancer and after sustaining a stroke. Bud was born to Lewis and Martha Hersey, June 25, 1942, in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Bud grew up in Bar Harbor and graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1960. Upon high school graduation, Bud went off to college in Houlton, Maine, at Ricker College. After a year there, he transferred to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL, on a scholarship to play golf there. Bud graduated with a degree in physical education and a minor in biology in 1965.

Upon graduation from college, Bud decided to teach physical education in an elementary school in South Satellite Beach, FL, for two years and then in North Palm Beach, FL. In 1969, Bud went to work for the Arnold Palmer golf company in 1971, Bud again stayed in golf equipment sales by taking a job with the Ben Hogan golf company, where he remained for the next 22 years. After he left the Ben Hogan golf company, he returned to education and teaching elementary physical education in the West Palm Beach area in Florida for 14 more years.

Bud was especially proud that his first job was at the Kebo Valley Golf Club collecting golf balls to bring back up to the golf pro who was giving a lesson. Next up was when Bud was old enough to start caddying for club members. And his final job at Kebo Valley Golf Club was working in the golf shop, where he learned the business aspect of the game of golf. Bud was especially proud of working with teacher Ken Gray to start the first golf team at Bar Harbor High School. He coached a high school golf team in West Palm Beach, FL, that was the top high school golf team in Florida.

Bud leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Carole Hersey; his daughter, Holly Ford (Alan Ford); and his son, Robert Edward Hersey (Melissa Hersey). He will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Cole Ford, Lucy Ford, Devin Hersey, and Zach Ford; his siblings, Lewis Hersey Jr. (Elaine), Joanne Wilson, Bill Hersey (Susan), and Trudy Curran (Bub); and many nephews and a niece; brother-in-law, Clayton Craig; and sister-in-law, Betsy Craig.

Bud enjoyed hiking around Mount Desert Island and also collecting shells when he would go to the beach in Florida. He also particularly enjoyed climbing the mountains in Acadia National Park. Bud was an avid pool player and also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends, especially cribbage. And then there were the funny jokes that he'd like to tell over and over and over again to the point that the grandkids would say to their grandfather, "Grampie I've heard that joke before!"

There will be a graveside service at 12 p.m. July 5, 2026, at Bayview Cemetery in Franklin, Maine, and also a celebration of Bud's life directly after that in Salsbury Cove, Maine. All of Bud's friends and family and neighbors are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, at the graveside service, Bud's family requests that donations be made in memory of Bud Hersey to the MDI High School Golf Team, c/o Windy Littlefield, 1081 Eagle Lake Rd., Bar Harbor, ME 04609.

As Bud would say, "Don't take any wooden nickels! And go, Boston Celtics!"