(Obituary originally posted on Portland Press Herald. It was removed on January 29th.)
On Jan. 22, 2024, Eben Zachary Talmage entered into a state of grace and peace he had sought at the end of his life having endured the unbearable pain of a two-year separation from his daughter who he loved dearly, in the course of a protracted divorce.
His family and friends in Maine knew his bright spirit and joyful depth. But he also traveled around the world, meeting many people who knew him as a passionate surfer. They knew his shining character and his flair and style, his deep respect for the peoples of the world. He developed the skills of an ambassador traveling to almost all the continents and countless countries within them. He left his enduring presence with all of those he met.
Eben knew how to connect with the people he visited by researching the places that he planned to visit. One story he told is the time he wore traditional clothing when he spoke to a chief in Samoa and asked to surf his beach. The chief granted him the right to surf and invited him to stay on the beach in a village hut. That was how Eben lived his life. We will miss him to a depth we cannot describe, but we are buoyed up by his love and sense of adventure that he brought to us every day.
Eben finally found joy in the last year of his life with his fiancé, Brooke Larrabee, who was the “love of his life.” They planned to wed as soon as his divorce was final. He and Brooke practiced yoga together and surfed together and delighted all who knew them. She will always be a cherished member of our family.
He is survived by his daughter, Eloise Grace Talmage, his “little mermaid,” his fiancé Brooke Larrabee, his mother Mary Zachary-Lang, his step-father Dan Lang and his father Zandy Talmage and wife Debbie Batton, his brother Ian Talmage and wife, Jennifer Banis, his brothers Max Talmage and Alex Talmage, his Uncle John Zachary and Aunt Linda Zachary, his Uncle Angel and Aunt Myrna, and his nieces Mena and Ruby Talmage, and his nephews Jack and Nicholas Talmage.
A great soul serves all the time.
A great soul never dies.
They bring us together again and again.
– Maya Angelo
Reinstate Eben Talmage’s Facebook Profile as a Memorial
(Petition on Change.org to reinstate his Facebook profile)
Eben Talmage’s Facebook profile was more than just a collection of posts and pictures; it was his last will & testament. It was the chronicle of his life’s journey, filled with memories, connections, and the essence of who he was. For those of us who knew and loved Eben, his profile is a digital time capsule, reaching as far back as 2008—a place where we can revisit the moments we shared with him and feel his presence even after his passing.
A year and a half ago, Eben tragically took his own life, leaving a void that words cannot fill. This week, the personal Facebook profile he left behind was inexplicably deleted. The circumstances surrounding this deletion remain unclear, but what we do know is that his estranged wife, Annie Talmage (Detterman), is the executor of his estate and holds the sole power to reinstate his account.
Eben’s friends and family believe strongly that his Facebook profile should be reinstated and transformed into a memorialized account. This digital space serves a therapeutic purpose, allowing loved ones to grieve, reflect, and celebrate Eben’s life and the love he shared with so many. His profile stands as a testament to the impact he had on the lives he touched, providing comfort and connection to those in mourning.
We respectfully reach out to Annie and Facebook, urging them to understand the profound emotional significance of Eben’s online presence. Reinstating his profile as a memorial would not only honor Eben’s memory but also offer solace to his family and friends during this difficult time. Please, Annie and Facebook, help us preserve this important connection to Eben’s legacy by reversing the deletion and memorializing his profile.
Sign this petition to support our request to turn Eben Talmage’s Facebook profile into a memorialized account, keeping his memory alive for friends, family, and future generations to reflect upon.
Visiting the petition below to sign and share.
http://www.change.org/ebentalmage