John Frances Federico

John F. Federico passed away after a brief illness surrounded by family and friends in Fairfield Glade, Crossville, Tennessee on October 3, 2018. John was the son of the late Lena and Frank Federico, formerly of South Portland, Maine. John was a graduate of South Portland High School in 1968, where he lettered in football and track. He graduated from Maine Martine Academy, in Castine, Maine in 1972. As a young boy, John was first captivated by the sea when he would take daily excursions on the Casco Bay Lines ferry that travelled among the Islands of Portland Harbor. John became a navigator on offshore vessels and served in the U.S. Merchant Marine as an officer for over 30 years. He sailed the oceans of the world, and set foot on every continent. John was also chief medical officer, and on one voyage, helped save the life a fellow seaman while far off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope, arranging for first-aid and an airlift. When not at sea in the summer months during the 1970s, John was the Audubon Society’s boatman on Hog Island where he assisted biologists with introducing Puffins to Eastern Egg Rock, on Muscongus Bay, in the Gulf of Maine. John had a deep passion and love for family, friends and nature. An avid reader of literature and connoisseur of the arts, John spent his retirement years keeping in touch with family, and travelling with his spouse, Jo Anne, whom he married in 2010. A tremendous son, brother, uncle, friend and husband, John will be missed by many. John is survived by his spouse, Jo Anne Federico, of Fairfield Glade, Crossville, TN, his sister and brother in law, Donna and Alan Vaillancourt of Wisconsin, and his brother and sister in law, Dan and Carollyn Federico of New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in John’s name be made to the American Cancer Society. Memorial services are not yet scheduled.