John H. Dearborn Ph.D.

ORONO - John Holmes Dearborn, 77, distinguished and emeritus professor of marine sciences at the University of Maine, died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010, at his home at Dirigo Pines. He was born Feb. 26, 1933, in Bangor, the son of Henry W. and Dorothy (Freese) Dearborn. While he was quite young the family moved to Barrington, R.I., where he graduated from L.R. Peck High School. The family lived near the Barrington River estuary, where John spent much of his time in small boats exploring the environment. During the summers of 1951 and 1952 he was a boatman at the National Audubon Society Camp of Maine on Hog Island. These early experiences further developed his interest in biology, especially his passion for marine fish and invertebrates. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology from the University of New Hampshire in 1955. During those years he worked as a museum assistant at the University of New Hampshire during the school year and for three summers as an assistant in the supply department at Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass. During summer 1956 John was a field assistant with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Laboratory, Boothbay Harbor. He received a Master of Science degree in zoology from Michigan State University in 1957 and that summer worked as a junior biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game at their field station on Afognak Island. John began his doctoral work in the department of biological sciences at Stanford University in 1958, serving first as a teaching assistant in comparative anatomy and then from 1958 to 1965 as an Antarctic research assistant. In 1959 and again in 1961, he wintered over at the U.S. Base at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. During those two trips he spent a total of 25 months collecting marine invertebrates for his doctoral research. He received his doctorate degree from Stanford University in 1965. Under the watchful eye of Professor H. Barraclough Fell, he obtained additional training as a National Science Foundation Post-doctoral Fellow in systematic zoology at Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University in 1965 and 1966. John began his long career at the University of Maine in fall 1966 as an assistant professor in the then department of zoology. He retired officially in 1999 as professor emeritus of marine sciences although his writing and interest in marine animals, especially echinoderms, continued until his death. Field work collecting marine specimens led John to many interesting, mostly cold, locations, including five more trips to the Antarctic, two Arctic excursions and one cruise to the Juan Fernandez Islands off the Chilean coast. During the l980s he participated in a number of dives aboard research submersibles in the Gulf of Maine. He became interested in forensics and cooperated with Maine State Medical Examiner's Office on a number of marine cases. John published 56 research papers and abstracts, and a number of reports before his retirement. Although his research was always interesting and challenging, John's love for teaching and the interactions with his students throughout three decades was perhaps the highlight of his career. During his years at the University of Maine he directed nine master's students and nine doctoral students, and taught literally thousands of undergraduates. He had a reputation among the undergraduates of being tough but fair. Grades of A did not come easily, but when earned were given with great pleasure. John received a number of honors and awards. A marine worm, a marine bivalve mollusk and an Antarctic fish were named in his honor. In 1967 Mount Dearborn, in the Willett Range, Victoria Land, Antarctica, was named for him by the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, and in 1968 he received the Antarctic Service Medal of the U.S. Congress. In the history of the University of Maine, John was the first person to receive two of the major faculty awards. He was the Distinguished Maine Professor of the General Alumni Association in 1973 and was the recipient of the Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award in 1987. In addition to his professional awards, in 2009 a pond at Dirigo Pines was also named in his honor. Although he had a fulfilling career, family was the center of his life. John will be remembered as a beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, and for the impact and influence he had on the lives he touched. He will be deeply missed. Bethel B. Dearborn, John's loving wife of 48 years, predeceased him in 2008. John is survived by a son, Mark of Modesto, Calif.; a daughter, Katharine Carlson and her husband, David, of Cumberland; one granddaughter, Sara Carlson; a sister, Mary D. Haig of Nashua, N.H.; a niece, Judith Jones of Amherst, N.H.; a nephew, William Haig and his wife, Kimberly, of Downer's Grove, Ill.; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and a sister-in-law, Marianne B. Bowers and her husband, John, of Palo Alto, Calif. John enriched the lives for those that had the privilege of knowing him. Through his kind heart, generosity and humorous spirit, he left this world a better place. John wishes his many friends love, happiness, good humor and good health, and reminds them all to care for others and treasure the natural environment. Planet Earth is all we have. It should be treated with great care and respect. A service is planned for the immediate family. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial celebration 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at Buchanan Alumni House, One Alumni Place, Orono. Gifts in his memory may be made in support of the John H. and Bethel B. Dearborn Marine Sciences Fund or the John H. and Bethel B. Dearborn Darling Marine Center Fund, care of the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792. Arrangements by Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.