John North Farrar

John North Farrar, 96, of Gorham, Maine, known as Jack to family and friends, passed away peacefully in Gorham on August 19, 2025. He was born on March 28, 1929 in Bangor, Maine, the son of Ralph B. and Josephine (Gartley) Farrar. Jack was raised in Bangor and graduated from Bangor High School in 1947. While there he participated in band, and the cross-country and track teams, of which he was the captain his senior year. Jack graduated from the University of Maine, Orono in 1951 with a B.A. in business administration. He was the saxophone section leader and president of both the concert and marching bands as well as drum major of both the marching and ROTC bands. During his high school and college years he played in a number of local dance bands, the sixteen piece University swing band, the Bangor band, and 195th Army National Guard band. After college Jack enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where, on completion of basic training in Geneva, New York, he received the Spirit of Honor Medal for excellent performance and leadership. He was also chosen to participate in a program to train U.S. Air Force career counselors at Denver University, Colorado. He later returned to Sampson AFB to complete his four year enlistment as a career counselor. In July 1953 Jack married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Downs of Bangor. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, Jack and Barbara returned to Maine, where he earned his M. Ed. in school guidance from UMO in 1958. Jack worked as the first full-time guidance counselor at Old Town High School for three years, then moving on to Bonney Eagle High School as the first director of guidance for five years. In 1962 he completed the requirements for a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in counseling at UMO. During Jack's years as a guidance counselor he served in many professional positions, including president of the Maine State Personnel and Guidance Association, also serving as the historian for 27 years. In 1966 Jack was appointed Assistant Director and Academic Advisor for part-time adult students in the Continuing Education Division at the University of Maine at Portland. Later he became the Director of Counseling and Academic Advising for Continuing Education at the merged campuses of Portland and Gorham (UMPG). When UMPG became the University of Southern Maine, Jack became the Director of Transfer Affairs and Academic Advising, located on the Gorham campus. He was also an adjunct instructor in USM's graduate counselor education program for eighteen years. Jack was a founding member of the USM Professional Staff Senate and was elected its first chairman. In 1990 he received the Distinguished Professional Staff Award for his outstanding service to the USM community and students. Upon retirement he received emeritus status, awarded by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees for his 25 years of meritorious service to UMP, UMPG and USM. He then served as president of the USM Retirees Association. Jack was a lifelong runner, jogger and walker. He enjoyed gardening, reading, camping and working in his yard. Jack was also an avid skier for over seventy years, which included trips to sixty-two different ski areas throughout the U.S., as well as many trips to the summit snow fields of Mt. Washington for spring skiing with his good friend Chuck Barr. He was an instructor for the Boy Scout skiing merit badge. Jack continued to ski until he was 88, and he loved every day of it. Jack was a former member of the Gorham Lions Club, the Gorham School Board, the Gorham ecumenical choir, a founding member of the Gorham Community Chorus and a 27 year volunteer at the Gorham Baxter Memorial library. For his work at the library, in 1999 he was named one of the top 100 volunteers in Maine by Governor Angus King. Jack was a member of St. Andrew's Masonic Lodge #83 in Bangor, the Scottish Rite and Consistory and a 32nd degree Mason. Jack was a member of the School Street United Methodist Church and the Cressey Road Christian Church in Gorham for over 50 years. He served on the church council, sang tenor in the choir and frequently played his saxophone at holiday services with Barbara playing piano or organ. In retirement Jack and Barbara spent many summers at the family camp at Green Lake, near Ellsworth, where Jack also played in the Ellsworth Concert band. Beyond his many personal and professional accomplishments, Jack was a devoted family man. He cherished the time he spent with his children and grandchildren and their spouses as well as his great-grandchildren. He especially enjoyed skiing with Robert and his family at Sugarloaf Mountain and David and his family at Pleasant Mountain. He always looked forward to attending events involving his grandchildren, particularly when they were singing or playing musical instruments. He embraced the uniqueness of each grandchild and took every opportunity to impart his wealth of acquired knowledge and wisdom. As a lifelong educator, he was particularly proud that his children and spouses, and grandchildren and spouses, were all college graduates. He was also very fond of his "unofficial" families at Pleasant Mountain, USM, Green Lake and Gorham. Jack is survived by his wife of 72 years, Barbara, of Gorham; son, Robert Farrar and his wife Bonnie, of Coplin Plantation; son, David Farrar and his wife Kim, of Gorham; grandchildren and their spouses Kristen Alara Farrar (Megan), Michael Hopwood Farrar (Ashley), Benjamin Farrar (Brittany) and Julianne Merry (Adam); and great-grandchildren Leona Farrar, Simon Farrar, Arthur Merry, Sylvan Merry, and Alexander Farrar. Jack was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Mary Saunders Farrar. The family would like to express our deepest thanks and admiration to Mom for her years of compassionate care provided to Dad, especially during his recent health challenges. For 72 years she was steadfast in providing him the best that life had to offer, and her devotion to his well-being was truly inspirational. We would also like to thank the wonderful staff at both Gorham House and Beacon Hospice for the assistance, care and attention they provided to Dad. A funeral service will be held at the Cressey Road Christian Church on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., immediately followed by a gathering of friends and family at the church fellowship hall. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Bangor, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack's memory may be made to the Baxter Memorial Library, 71 South Street, Gorham, ME, 04038.