John M. Bridges

John Marshall Bridges, 89, of Cape Neddick, ME passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025. John was born in 1935 in York, ME to Thomas W. Bridges Sr. and Fanny Ellis Bridges. He was a star athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball, and he would later be inducted into the York High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. John graduated from Gorham State Teachers’ College, going on to teach and coach in North Berwick for two years before returning to teach at York High School. He married the love of his life, Margaret “Peggy” Sue Hackett Bridges, in 1955 and they had four children. After teaching, he became a lobsterman based in York Harbor, where he would later serve as Harbormaster from July 2003 to November 2008. 

Once John and Peggy got into skiing, they built a camp at Sugarloaf Mountain, where they met many new friends. John worked for Carrabassett Valley Police Department and Peggy worked at the Sugarloaf gift shop. Their love of the mountain and community there instilled a lifelong love of skiing for their children and grandchildren. 

John will always be remembered as an honored veteran, wood worker, painter, hunter, lobsterman and fisherman, farmer, animal lover, bird watcher, sun bather, and enjoyer of a good gin and tonic. One of his favorite memories was having the opportunity to play basketball in Boston Garden and to shake hands with Boston Celtics legends Red Auerbach, Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn.  His claim to fame was being shown in his lobster boat, the Rocky B, leaving York Harbor in the opening of a film “Four Seasons” shown at the Boston Museum of Science for over ten years. His service to his community and unique character embodied the spirit of Maine. 

John was predeceased by his brother Thomas W. Bridges Jr., his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Sue Hackett Bridges, and his eldest son, David J. Bridges. He is survived by his remaining children and their spouses: Michael L. Bridges and his wife Maureen Flanagan of Appleton, ME; James M. Bridges and his wife Viktoriya Bridges of Las Vegas, NV; and Martha Sue Bridges Turner and her husband Bob Turner of Bryant Pond, ME; as well as two granddaughters, Abigail Rose Turner of Washington, D.C. and Jessica Sue Turner Shaw, her  husband Andrew Shaw and their two daughters – John’s great-granddaughters – of Carrollton, VA. 

A memorial service for John will be held at 1:00 p.m. on April 18, 2025 at Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home in York, ME. Donations may be made in John’s memory to  the Boardman -Ellis VFW Post #6977, 75 Cape Neddick Rd, Cape Neddick, ME 03909.

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