1937 – 2013

CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Dr. John B. Makin Jr., 76, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at his home.

John was born in Neptune, N.J., on Sept. 1, 1937, a son of Dr. John B. and Mildred (Craig) Makin Sr. He was a 1955 graduate of Manasquan High School in Manasquan, N.J. Following high school, he earned is B.A. at Johns Hopkins University in 1959, and his M.D. from Tufts University in 1963.

Upon completing his surgical internship at St. Luke’s in New York City in 1964, Uncle Sam came calling and he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served his country until 1966, earning an honorable discharge with the rank of captain. John was then able to realize his lifelong dream of becoming a physician, completing his residency at Boston City Hospital in 1968.

In 1972, John was admitted as a fellow into the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and practiced medicine in Rumford and Waterville until his retirement in 2009. He was a highly respected surgeon and practitioner. He was a past president of the Maine Medical Association from 1998-1999 and received his 50-year medical school anniversary pin this past October. He was a delegate to the American Medical Association, and was section chair and district treasurer of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Through the course of his career, Dr. Makin delivered more than 4,000 babies to families in Maine.

While John was a very proud and respected professional, family and home were his true passions. He was an incredibly devoted father to his three children from his first marriage. In 1982, he married his soul mate, Nancy, and became father to three beautiful stepdaughters. As time went on, John became the grand patriarch of a modern, blended family of 15. He reveled in the holidays and traditions during which he could enjoy the laughs and love of family.

While Nancy was his first and foremost love, his other was a close second. In the late 1970s, in his 40s and on a whim, John decided to go skiing with his boys and stoked his other passion. John fell in love with the sport and became an avid Sugarloafer in 1981. He and Nancy built their life around “the Loaf” and he averaged between 75 and 100 days of skiing per year during his retirement. He died on Tuesday doing what he loved — cutting shrubs and maintaining the home that brought him so much happiness.

Surviving are his loving wife of 31 years, Nancy (Fontaine) Makin; three children, Suzanne (Makin) Rosenthal of Charleston, S.C., Michael R. Makin and his wife, Pender, of Scarborough and John E. Makin and his wife, Ann, of Rancho Cordova, Calif; three stepchildren, Sara Eastup and her husband, Ed, of Windham, Tina Marie Poulin of New York City, N.Y., and Margo (Poulin) Reis and her husband, Aaron, of Falmouth; a brother, Richard Makin and his wife, Pam, of Naples, Fla.; five grandchildren, Jake, Maddie, Tillie, Jack and Francesca; as well as many other relatives and friends.

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