JOHN MILNE Obituary

MILNE, John Political journalist John Milne, formerly of Concord, NH, last residing in Portland, ME, died of a brief illness on Thursday, Sept. 5th. He was 73.

John's first love was politics, which he covered for more than four decades, reporting with UPI, Miami Herald, New Hampshire Times, and The Boston Globe. In 1999, he launched PrimaryDiner.com, one of the first news websites devoted solely to the subject. He loved talking to people, and asking questions, saying, "I'm lucky I'm paid to do what I love." He worked for and influenced many newspapers, but editing the New Hampshire Times held a special place in his heart. Political reporting for the Globe was another cherry gig. "I get to live in New Hampshire," he'd say, "but every four years, I get to play in the big leagues." He boasted privately of having met every president within his lifetime (2016 broke the streak); although, in New Hampshire, that could probably be a club.

John always had a book project in the works, from mysteries to political histories. His efforts finally came to fruition when he edited "CrossCurrents of Change: Concord, N.H. in the 20th Century," written by a collection of local historians. He was never without a book, or three, in hand.

With his wife Lisa, he shared a shorthand humor, heavy on puns and useless, impromptu acronyms. They long, and lovingly, argued over the distinctions in their regional dialects, his a milkshake, hers a frappe. Together they terrorized their children, insisting on names such as Walter Mond-Owl and Michael Duck-akis for their stuffed animals. He liked to stay up late playing blues guitar, but played for an audience only once - in Chicago, with Mike Bloomfield. He loved hiking, and frequently took both children and the family dogs. He'd admit that none of the well-loved animals held a candle to Brigand, his boyhood collie, whom he taught to herd toddlers.

He was an accomplished and experimental cook as well as a connoisseur of his wife's prolific baking. Their ample cookbook collection conquered more than one bookcase. At family dinners, and long before social media, he plated each dish, lovingly fanning the sliced beets over a sheaf of asparagus, and dotting with green dressing. He'd say, "you eat with your eyes."

John's son Joshua inherited his love of baseball, news media, and his gregarious charm. His daughter Jessica inherited his passion for history, architecture, and hiking. Because of his influence, they both became writers after a fashion. He was generous with his editing expertise, collaborative and direct. Even so, he always said his wife Lisa was his best editor.

Later in life, John loved reading to his four grandchildren. The Concord (NH) Public Library was one of his favorite haunts. With the Concord Historical Society, he worked to memorialize John Wynant, whose contributions to this country were unsung. In lieu of flowers, please donate to either organization. A Celebration of Life will be held in Portland, ME in October.

If he'd edited this obit, it'd be better.

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Published by Boston Globe from Sep. 10 to Sep. 11, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for JOHN MILNE

3 Entries

Robert Parker

December 16, 2021

John made a trip to Spain in 1970 to visit me and Patricia Maples in Alicante. I remember his roasting a baby goat for our enjoyment. We met you, Lisa, in Boston, when we returned to the US the following year. We knew John from Chicago.

July 1, 2020

I remember I was fairly new to Boston myself and working at WRKO when I met John as the “new guy” at UPI. We became good friends immediately. He joined the young crew who frequented the Boston Press Club after work and a table at Trader Vic’s (often drinking Fog Cutters and collecting the huge vessels they were served in!). I loved his wealth of knowledge and sense of humor – we laughed a lot. We were good sidekicks.

I wanted some print experience, so John gave me a weekend job as a UPI stringer during the 1972 New Hampshire primary season. It was a valuable experience for which I was always grateful.

Something John once said to me has stuck with me for over 40 years and I quote it often to other journalists and communicators. He said, “I just want to write one unbiased sentence.” His thought stressed the importance of choosing words carefully to report the facts as they are – with accuracy and truth.

I always respected John as a gentleman, journalist, and creative thinker. While it has been many years since I last saw him, I am sorry to hear of his death and send my sympathy to Lisa, his children and grandchildren

June 26, 2020

I remember "Milne's Laws" and used to recite them when applicable. I remember John & Lisa's first date when he brought her to Trader Vic's to meet all his after-hour friends - she did not run screaming from the room, so it was a good sign.

One of my fondest memories was of John's white T-Shirts. We both grew up in the middle of the country and would always become reflective about our mid-west and the smells and odors that brought memories to the fore - driving by fields of freshly cut hay and mown clover, Saturday mornings waking to the smell of bacon and coffee, freshly baked bread's perfume wafting through the house.

I once said that I so missed the wonderful smell of bed linens fresh off the clothes line and crawling into bed filled with that delicious fresh air ambience. I did not realize that his lovely wife Lisa used to hang out their weekly laundry and one day, they brought me the next best thing to fresh sheets: one of John's t-shirts that had been hanging on the line to dry so that I could wear it as a night shirt! What wonderful friends!

Before there Trivia or nerds and brainiacs, the latter which are so pejorative, we played our "gotcha!" from literary works. My favorite question to ask was always from where the following line came: "And who will go with Fergus now....." John Milne was the only person in over 50 years that got the correct answer.

Only love and good memories to Lisa, the the family
Loretta M. Turner

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