Bangor, Maine Used Bookseller and Owner of Pro Libris Has Died

Bangor's used book lovers are mourning the passing of Eric Furry, owner of Pro Libris Books.

Bangor, Maine Owner of Pro Libris Used Bookstore Has Died

The obituary in the Bangor Daily News states that Eric Furry, 74, of Bangor passed away at a Bangor hospital on Sunday, January 18, 2026, after a brief illness.

Furry was the owner of the Pro Libris Used Bookshop on Third Street in Bangor, a business that he opened in 1980.

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In 1988, the store burned, but that didn't stop Eric, who sold books out of his house until the landlord rebuilt the shop.

Bangor, Maine's Pro Libris Bookshop is a Used Book Lover's Paradise

I had never visited Pro Libris until my husband took me there 15 years ago. It was an experience that I still remember, and one that we repeated frequently.

The store was small to begin with, but it was even more cramped by the number of bookshelves, all jammed to capacity with books. There were so many, in fact, that some were always piled on the floors by the shelves.

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My nose was instantly filled with the smell of dust and aging paper. The shop was never dirty, mind you, but there were just so many used books that it was all you could smell. I loved it.

Bangor, Maine Book Lovers Will Miss Pro Libris Owner, Eric Furry

Tacked up around the store were notes, cartoons, and quotes that reflected Eric's personality and intelligence. He knew his stuff when it came to books and could help you find anything you were looking for.

Eric loved motorcycles, so he and my husband would talk about what he was riding, while I admired the 'Opus the Penguin' statue behind the counter, or stroked the cat I've heard adopted Furry after it walked into the store one day.

Our sincerest condolences to Eric's wife, Vera, his brother and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was a special man who will be greatly missed.