ROCKLAND — John Andrews Root, Sr., was born during a blizzard at his parent’s home in West Hartford, Connecticut, February 15, 1926. He was the son of Dr. Maurice T. Root and Dr. Sophie A. Root. He attended local schools, then Loomis School in Windsor,  Connecticut for four years graduating in 1943. He enlisted in the Navy, achieved the rank of Aviation Machinist Mate, and was honorably discharged at Lido Beach, New York in May of 1946.

He met the love of his life, Charlotte L. Johnson, at a square dance. After courting for a year, they were married in Hartford, Connecticut, on September 6, 1947. In 2022 they celebrated their 75th anniversary.

John graduated with a B.S. degree from Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, in 1949. He attended Tufts College Medical School in Boston and graduated with a degree in medicine in 1953. His family moved to Portland, Maine, for a year of internship at Maine General Hospital (later Maine Medical Center). He stayed on there for 4 more years as a resident in general surgery.

In 1958 he had the privilege of joining Dr. Robert Allen in a general surgical practice in Rockland, Maine, working first at Knox General Hospital, and later Pen Bay Medical center. He held memberships in the Maine Medical Society, The New England Surgical Society and The Maine Vascular Society. With his best friend Dr. Peter Giustra, he co-authored several papers dealing with general and vascular surgery, which were published in medical journals.

In 1986, Dr. Root closed his surgical practice. In his “retirement”, he worked three years for a general contractor building houses. He spent three more years learning cabinetry, then he built his own house with his son John (and others) on the south shore of Rockland Harbor in Owls Head. After selling his house he lived on Beech Street in Rockland.

John was a humble man, who always carried a handkerchief, a pocketknife and had a flashlight within arm’s reach. At 99 he would recite long works of poetry, many of which were read to him as a child by his mother. John had a lifelong passion for woodworking. He built two classic sailboats with his great friend Lucian Green prodding him on. He carved dozens of eagles, built several beautiful chests and produced dozens of beautiful, detailed paintings. That in addition to building two exceptional houses. Recently he was quite proud to be called a Renaissance Man, which he truly was.

John was predeceased by his wife, Charlotte Root; one sister, Mary Saunders; two brothers, Timothy and Stephen Root. He was also predeceased by his son Peter J. Root. Peter and his father had a very close bond. Born with spinal bifida, his father saw Peter as an exceptionally courageous, friendly optimist who had a very positive influence on his thousands of online and personal friends. He religiously tended to his medical needs, daily, until Peter passed away at the age of 56.

He is survived by Jeanne and Howard Goldberg, John A. Root, Jr., and his wife Susan, Nancy and Ralph Hopkins and Kathryn and Eric White, as well as a niece whom he considered a daughter, Mary Root, and a special nephew, John Hoadley and his wife Marie. There are 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

At Dr. Root’s request, he will be remembered by his family privately. All are welcome to leave online stories and condolences for the family on their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Memorial donations may be made to either Rockland District Nursing Association at rocklanddistrictnursing.org/donate/, by mail at, RDNA, PO Box 1713, Rockland, ME 04841 or Rockland Historical Society at rocklandhistoricalsociety.com/donate, or by mail at Rockland Historical Society, PO Box 1331, Rockland, ME 04841.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.