John “Jack” Biscoe, 73, passed away peacefully on Nov. 20 at the Hospice House in Auburn after a prolonged illness. Jack was born Aug. 10, 1936 in Boston to Professor Jonathan and Martha (Richardson) Biscoe. Educated in the schools of Nyack, N.Y., Amherst, Mass., and Orono, he graduated from Orono High School in 1953. While at Orono High he started at left guard on the State Championship Football team of 1952 and earned a place on the All State team. After high school he attended the University of Maine and graduated in 1957 with a degree in Zoology. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Later he earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Colby College. For six years he served his country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. On June 20, 1959 he was married to Carlyn Smith of Portland.
Jack enjoyed a long successful career in education as principal of the Maine high schools in Harrington, Strong, and Turner. He retired from Leavitt Area High in Turner in 1987.
After retirement he enjoyed making and selling furniture and craft items and eventually became involved in the antiques business. Along with his wife he journeyed many times to England for business and pleasure. Summer activities during these years included a clambake enterprise in and around South Bristol.
As a Zoology major with a particular interest in fisheries, Jack worked for two summers for the state of Maine and also in Alaska on a salmon tagging boat. Loving Alaska, he volunteered twice to return and assist in the oil cleanup after the wreck of the tanker, Exxon Valdez. He also became very active with the Sierra Club and the Alaska Wilderness League.
Jack was predeceased by his daughter, Laura in 2007 and wife, Carlyn in 2008.
He is survived by his twin brother, Mark Biscoe and wife Jane of Brunswick; sister, Mary Biscoe of Raleigh, N.C.; and large and loving extended family.
Memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date.
Gifts in Jack’s name may be made to Leavitt Trustees Scholarship Fund, 21 Matthews Way, Turner, ME 04282; the Alaska Wilderness League 122 C St., NW, Washington, DC 20001; or Bates College, 2 Andrews Rd., Lewiston, ME 04240-6028.
Arrangements are by Dillingham & Son Memorial Chapel and Tribute Center, Auburn.