John A. Christiansen

Yarmouth – John Alfred Christiansen, of Cousins Island, ME died Tuesday May 25th, 2010 at the age of 93.

He was born in New Orleans, LA in 1917 and was raised by his parents, Alfred Fulton Christiansen and Alma Louise Purdy in Two Rivers, WI. He attended school in Quincy, MA where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Louise Andrews. They married in 1937 and raised four children on Long Island, NY.

John began his career at age 20 first working for Pan Am, American Airlines, and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and then for the Federal Aviation Administration for 22 years as an airlines safety officer. He retired in 1978 to move, with his wife, to his longtime family home on Cousins Island in Yarmouth, ME.

From the time John was a young boy, he was an avid ham-radio operator. He was an assistant state director for New York State, Army MARS (Military Affiliated Radio Systems) for several years as well as a Director for the State of Maine for amateur radio operators. This was a passion of his and he continued as an operator throughout his lifetime. He enjoyed organic gardening, cooking and baking, and always stayed on top of current events – never to miss his morning paper and nightly news.

But what defined John was his family. A dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather – this was his joy. He was a true gentleman and a model of what a man should be with his blend of strength, compassion and dignity – solid as a rock.

He is survived by his four children: David, Carol, Paul and Lisa; his daughter-in-law, Diane; his son-in-law, Timothy; his brother, David and sister-in-law Margaret; his six grandchildren: Steven, Donna, Deidre, Regina, Jennifer and Sabrina and his six great-grandchildren: Emma, Rebecca, Timothy, Laura, Meghan and Henry.

A funeral service will be held on Friday May 28, 2010 at 1:00 PM at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth with Rev. Kent Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Cousins Island Cemetery. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to leave tributes, sign the online guest book and view a video collage of John’s life.

For those who wish, donations may be made in John’s memory to: American Diabetes Association, 80 Elm Street, Portland, ME 04101.