Son of JAWS harbormaster actor passes away, aged 91

Everyone who appears in Jaws is a memorable character, even if they are only in it for a few moments. You remember them, and harbormaster Frank Silva - as played by Donald Poole - is no exception.

Like most of the Jaws extras he was a local to Martha's Vineyard, which doubled as the fictional Amity Island.

His son, Everett Poole, has passed away at the age of 91. According to the MV Times, which called Poole a Menemsha stalwart, he served as Chilmark town moderator for 45 years, a role he took on in 1976.

Everett Poole, Chilmark Town Moderator for 45 Years, died at 91

Everett’s father Donald who appeared Jaws as Amity Island harbormaster, Frank Silva

That long and respected tenure meant he was the longest serving town moderator the Vineyard has ever seen.

Poole also owned Poole’s Fish Market, a powerhouse wholesale and retail fish market, from 1944 until 2005. Like his dad in the film Jaws, he had even been harbormaster.

The sea was clearly part of his very fibre, as after selling the fish market he opened the Chilmark Chandlery, a store specialising in all manner of fishing items. Had Quint existed, perhaps he'd have been a regular client.

In an interview with the Vineyard Gazette Poole once compared the two jobs of moderator and owner of the fish market, as keeping democracy in line to that of a captain at sea.

Everett Poole with his father Donald, who played harbormaster Frank Silva in Jaws (1975)

Sounding almost like something that Robert Shaw might have said as Quint on board the Orca to Brody and Hooper, he said:

“When whaleships left the country, when they got outside the three-mile limit, the skipper would call everybody aft, and he would instruct the mates on their duty. And he would tell the crew, there’s one more thing to remember boys: when you see me in town, I’m Mr. So-and-So. But when we’re on this ship and out here beyond this three-mile limit, I’m God almighty.”

Everett even talks about his dad filming Jaws in the Jaws bible, Memories From Martha's Vineyard, where he speaks about how his dad regularly shared lunch with - unbeknownst to him - Steven Spielberg, who Poole Snr called "a very nice fellow."

Discover more about that incredible Jaws story below:

Words by Dean Newman

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