Linda Bean, L.L. Bean heir who backed Trump, dies at 82

Linda L. Bean, the granddaughter of the L.L. Bean founder who had a sprawling career as a businessperson and GOP activist, died at the age of 82.

Bean died Saturday, her business manager — Veronika Carlson — confirmed to The Associated Press. Her cause of death was not disclosed, the news wire added.

“Linda was known for her amazing work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit as well as her pride and dedication to her home state of Maine and L.L.Bean, the company her grandfather founded,” the statement said, per the AP. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends.”

The Hill reached out to L.L. Bean and Linda Bean’s Maine Lobster Inc. for further comment.

The granddaughter of L.L. Bean founder Leon Leonwood Bean, Linda Bean served on the outdoor retail company’s board for 46 years and spent several years as an entrepreneur.

She founded the Perfect Maine Lobster brand in 2007, which includes a variety of restaurants, food trucks and home deliveries of lobster in the Pine Tree State. Bean was a vocal promoter of Maine’s famous lobsters and led a campaign to investigate the sustainability of wild caught lobster on the Maine coast, according to Perfect Maine’s website.

“In 2007 Linda took a strong interest in helping to brand and advance Maine lobster, a year when landings by all licensed Maine fishing family boats totaled 68 million pounds,” Perfect Maine wrote. “During her years of operations and expansions, Maine’s landings have doubled, pushing the need for creative marketing, thus spawning Linda’s latest idea.”

In 2013, she helped get Maine’s lobster industry certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, Perfect Maine said. The certification was pulled in 2022 due to concerns about harm to whales, The Associated Press reported.

She also supported LifeFlight of Maine medical helicopters and the Maine Botanical Gardens at Boothbay, per The AP.

Bean unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1988 and 1992, and she was a well-known donor to Republican movements. She came under scrutiny in 2017 after the Federal Election Commission reported Bean contributed $60,000 to a pro-Trump PAC. Contributions are legally limited to $5,000 and prompted the PAC — Make America Great Again LLC — to pursue becoming a super PAC to raise unlimited funds.

Trump thanked Bean on social media for her support, writing, “Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean. @LBPerfectMaine.”

A day later, the Office of Government Ethics issued a reminder executive branch employees are barred from endorsing products without directly naming the former president.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) on Sunday said she was “saddened” to learn of Bean’s passing.

“Linda’s career included nearly five decades on the board of the iconic company started by her grandfather, L.L. Bean, and successful ventures and investments in Maine’s lobster, real estate and hospitality industries,” Mills wrote in a statement, adding later, “While her politics did not align with mine, Linda and I found common ground in our mutual love of our home state, of the coast of Maine and our working waterfronts, of Maine inspired art and of the perfect Maine lobster roll.”

Rep. Susan Collins (R-Maine) remembered Bean for her love of the state of Maine.

“Its coastal communities, islands, and art, particularly by the Wyeths, had a special place in her heart. Linda also was an astute businesswoman who promoted Maine lobster through her restaurants,” Collins wrote on social media. “Many a time while waiting for my plane in Portland, I had a cup of her famous lobster stew at her airport restaurant. My heart goes out to her sons and other family members as they mourn the loss of this remarkable Mainer.”