WESTBROOK- Michael Charles St. John, age 76, passed away at 2:08 pm on Memorial Day, May 28th, 2018 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. A potato farmer’s son, he was born and raised in far northern Arookstook County along the St. John River in Fort Kent, Maine, on June 6, 1941, to the late Louis and Dolores St. John.
The eldest of six children, Michael grew up in a bilingual household speaking French and English. The family proximity to Canada led to a sturdy cabin, “the camp,” built by the family alongside Jerry Lake in the province of Quebec. Many summers were enjoyed there by three generations.
In high school and college, Michael was a star athlete, playing forward during basketball and pitcher during baseball seasons. He was voted “Best Athlete” in high school as a senior superlative. He graduated from Fort Kent High School, received a BA in history from University of Maine at Fort Kent, and started his career as a school teacher.
Ultimately, Michael’s vocation was expressed through public service--always keeping his eyes on the underdog. He spent years in Madawaska, Maine, as the executive director of St. John Valley Associates--an organization with a mission to give dignity and quality of life to adults with mental retardation. He also spent many years working at Aroostook County Action Program in Presque Isle, Maine, with the goal of helping the unemployed find training, education, and employment opportunities. His last job before retirement in June of 2003 occurred 17 years ago when he worked as a custodian at Coastal Ridge Elementary School. That move brought him closer to his grandkids and led to the third chapter of his life which centered on bridge, bridge directorship, and attending sporting and arts events.
His passions were family, games of any kind, sports, theater, travel, and coin collecting. He was “Poppy” to his three grandchildren--Emma Rose, Kai, and Jack--and they were absolutely the apples of his eye and his pride and joy. He would drop anything to attend their special events over the years. In the last five years, he spent countless hours collecting and rolling quarters for them. Each grandchild received a complete roll--and in some cases two rolls--of the quarters from each of the 50 states and each of the national parks. This was truly an investment of labor of love.
Mike was a game player. He loved and excelled at games of all sorts--especially cards, pool, ping-pong, and horseshoes. He was an avid bridge player and was very proud of his bridge accomplishments. He is currently ranked 16th in the state of Maine among all duplicate bridge players. For the last several years, he played bridge at least two or three times per week, and he even became a co-owner of the Cape Carders Duplicate Bridge Club. Michael is especially proud of achieving the rank of “Gold Life Master” in May of 2013. At the time of this achievement, Michael wrote a document, which he kept among his important papers, expressing the pride he had in this accomplishment. It states:
Just to let you know--
Only 13 other Maine residents have attained a Gold Life Master ranking. This is quite an achievement for a County boy. Yes, it took me 50 years to get here at an
average of 50 points a year. My first 15 years of playing duplicate bridge my average point count per year was approximately 15.
My lifetime goal for myself playing duplicate bridge through ACBL was to get to
2500 points.
--I’m there--!!!!
A dyed-in-the-wool Red Sox fan, he used to joke, “When I die, I want my ashes scattered at Fenway!” He was also a huge Celtics fan, and he attended many games at Fenway Park and TD Gardens over the years.
Michael is survived by his partner Dottie Kelleher of Westbrook, Maine, and three daughters: Sherrie Saint John of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, and her husband Gregg Foster; Jill St. John of Saco, Maine, and her son, Jack Tripp; and Sarajane St. John of Dover, New Hampshire, and her children Emma Rose and Kai DiMuzio. He is also survived by four siblings: Sylvia Morey and her husband Walt; Beatrice Simon and her husband George; Pete St. John and his wife Judy; and Tim St. John and his wife Kim. Though he lost brother Ralph St. John to Parkinson’s Disease last year, he is survived by Ralph’s wife Marcy. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Michael is also survived by many friends, especially in the bridge community, who knew him as a curmudgeon with a soft heart. He could sometimes present a gruff exterior, but he would drop anything to be of assistance to someone in need. This quality of helping others was at the fiber of his being from a very young age. When he was only nine years old, he became a local Fort Kent hero when he rescued both of his younger sisters from their burning house, thus saving their lives.
Michael was a well-loved man and will be sorely missed by many.
Arrangements are with Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to: the Parkinson’s Foundation and/or the American Cancer Society.