Dr. John Alan Godsoe

Cumberland - John Alan Godsoe, MD (Ret) passed away peacefully on January 11, 2015 at his farm in Cumberland surrounded by his loving family. John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Elaine; five children, John David and wife Jennifer, Peter and wife Diane, Kelley Keyte, Karen Keyte, and Bethany and husband Neil Giacobbi; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

John was born in Bangor, Maine on March 10, 1928 to Helen MacDonald and Walter Godsoe. At 6 years old his parents gave him a bugle, which launched his lifelong love of music. He went on to master the trumpet, playing in high school, the navy, college and ultimately the Community Orchestra of the Portland Symphony. He left high school in his senior year to attend the U.S. Navy Band School and spent two years touring in the Mediterranean as a flag band member.

Upon his discharge, he refocused on his education, eventually gaining admission to the University of Maine at Orono where he entered as a French major. As a college student he joined the National Guard Band based in Bangor. In the summer of 1949 when traveling to perform for a political function at Old Orchard Beach, the C-47 transporting the band crashed into the Fore River in Portland. Rather than a setback, his time recuperating at the Maine General Hospital inspired him to change his focus at Orono to pre-medicine. John graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon at Maine Medical Center and Mercy Hospital for many years. It was at MMC that he met his wife Elaine, the Head Nurse he worked with on the orthopedic floor. Patients thirty years later would still speak fondly of the impact he had on their lives and the care he took in his dealings with them.

Mastery was a core commitment John took to anything and everything he did, and his interests were broad ranging. Throughout his adult life, he spent many enjoyable hours working in the woods. He continued his study of the French language, developing an impeccable accent. After his retirement, John took up work with horses learning to ride dressage, and in his usual fashion, studying and practicing relentlessly. In his 70’s, he and Elaine became such avid ballroom dancers that they installed a dance floor in the basement of their home. John continued to live with curiosity about the world and all its people until the end of his life.

John’s passion for life extended to the love of his family, including all relations. He will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Services will be at the Congregational Church in Cumberland, 282 Main Street, on Saturday, January 17th at 2PM followed by a reception there. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cumberland Food Pantry at 290 Tuttle Road, Cumberland, ME 04021 or Learning Works at 181 Brackett Street, Portland, Maine.