Obituary of John F. Price

John F. Price, 83, of New Harbor, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2013 surrounded by his loving family in the home that he and his son, Steve, designed and built. He and his family had enjoyed summers in Back Cove and New Harbor since 1962, when they first visited John’s Aunt Polly and cousin, Mary Jane Small and where he had made his permanent home in 1999. Many will remember and recognize him for all his many contributions as an actor/director throughout mid-coast Maine. John was born in Philadelphia on November 3, 1930 to Josiah Foster Flagg and Elizabeth Couch Price. He was married to Priscilla Pannell of Croyden, Surrey, England from 1956-1981 and to Ann Hargis from 1991-1997. John received his B.S. degree in Psychology and Speech and M.A. in Speech and Theatre Arts from Pennsylvania State University. He applied for and was awarded a Danforth Fellowship to study in the doctoral program for two years at Michigan State University in 1964. He was a member of the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corps where he was stationed in Germany and was honorably discharged 1956. John spent his career in higher education, first at the University of Rhode Island where he taught Speech and Theatre Arts. After he completed doctoral degree in the summer of 1964, he took a new position at New York State Education Office in Albany, where he set up departments of Educational Television on six different campuses. He then took a position as Department Chair of Communication and Educational Television at State University of New York, (SUNY) College at New Paltz from, 1965 to 1977. In 1977, John moved to Clarkson, NY where he worked at SUNY, Brockport, this time in the Educational Communications Center. In 1983, he moved to the Academic Advising Office from which he retired as a senior Academic Advisor in August of 1991. He continued to work at the College as a part time lecturer from the fall of 1991 to spring of 1996. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in mid-coast Maine and the greater Portland area and a longtime supporter of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario. John was on the board of directors of the Lincoln County Community Theatre, and a member of the River Company. He directed and acted in many productions, and was instrumental in the creation and organization of Theatre of the Spirit. In addition to his love of theatre, he believed in supporting his community as well. Both the Community Housing Improvement Project (CHIP) and The Carpenter’s Boat Shop held a special place in his heart. John was a member of the 2nd Congregational Church, UCC, in Newcastle. He served on the Board of Deacons, the Music Committee, and as the church Parliamentarian. John was a faithful member of the Chancel Choir and the Handbell Choir. He served on the Board of Directors of the Coastal Chorale and sang with that group as well as with the Tapestry Singers. Surviving John are his children Stephen (and wife Barbara) of Scarborough, ME; daughter Martha of Deerfield, MA; four grandchildren, Ainsley and Dylan, of Scarborough, August and McCallum of Deerfield; beloved cousin, Mary Jane Small, also of New Harbor and brother Paul Price of Springfield, Ohio. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 25, at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the church. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Ken Dale, and the Rev. Robert Ives. In lieu of flowers, you may send a memorial gift in John’s name to CHIP; PO Box 6, New Harbor, ME 04554 or to The Carpenters Boat Shop; 440 Old County Rd; Pemaquid, ME 04558.