Jean S. Harrington, 79, of Bristol, a lifelong educator, went home to be with the Lord on the evening of Oct. 25 at Cove’s Edge, Damariscotta, surrounded by her loving family after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. The daughter of Theodore and Edna (Seavey) Smith, she was born in Exeter, Jan. 1, 1929 and grew up in East Corinth.
Following her public education, Jean earned her BS Degree in Social Sciences in 1951 from Barrington College in Rhode Island. Jean first came to the Damariscotta area in 1959 with her husband, the Rev. Donald W. Harrington, to serve Christ at the Damariscotta Baptist Church.
In 1970, Jean began her career teaching grade 3, first at the Franklin Elementary School in Newcastle and later at Great Salt Bay School in Damariscotta, for a total of 12 years. Jean served as the Right to Read Director for School Union #74 from 1974 to 1979. She found great joy in seeing children learn to love reading and this passion influenced her decision to return to graduate school at the University of Southern Maine in 1980 where she earned a Master of Science in Education. In 1982 she accepted a position at Cairo American College, a private school (K-12) in Maadi, Egypt, with students from many different countries. She served as the Reading Specialist for the Elementary level. While in Egypt, Jean presented two workshops for the Neareast/South Asia Conference, first in Rhodes, Greece and then in India. She also published an article entitled “Enrichment in Egypt” that was published in the Gifted Education Around the World magazine, international issue. In 1984 she was the recipient of the U.S. National Humanities Institute Fellow Grant for Elementary Teachers at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In 1985, she received the December Alumnus Profile from USM. After her retirement in 1993, Jean returned to Maine and for a few years served on the Board of Trustees for Lincoln Academy.
Jean was a woman with a deep and strong faith who dearly loved her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. She was a lifelong member of the Damariscotta Baptist Church and while in Egypt was active with the Maadi Community Church. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, reading books with a good cup of coffee and a sweet treat, watching movies, and playing the piano for and singing to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom affectionately called her “Grammy Jean”. Her love of travel took her to many parts of the world including Kenya, Israel, China, Greece, Switzerland, India, Thailand, Austria, Spain, Turkey, England and Germany.
Jean was predeceased by her two brothers, Phillip and Carroll Smith.
She is survived by her brother, the Rev. Theodore Smith and wife Doris of East Corinth; children, Donna Craig and husband Williard, Donnie Harrington and wife Kim, Eric Harrington and wife Darci and Julie Crider and husband Bill, all of Bristol; eight grandchildren, Angela Hatch, Sarah Craig, Amy and Katie Harrington, Michael and Lian Harrington and Emily and Lindsey Crider; five great-grandchildren, Dana, Lexi, and Dylan Hatch and Gabriel and Alexandra Hackett, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to be with the family 2-4 p.m., Sat., Nov. 1, at the Strong Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. Celebration of Jean’s life 3 p.m., Sun., Nov. 2 at the Damariscotta Baptist Church, with Pastor Foster Williams officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Chamberlain Cemetery in Round Pond.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160B, Portland, ME 04101-2406; Coastal Christian School Library, or to one of the local school libraries within Union #74 in her honor.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Damariscotta.
