CAMDEN — John G. Williamson, 86, of Quarry Hill, Camden, and formerly of Boulder, Colorado, passed away with family at his side on Thursday, January 4, 2024, after a long and tenacious battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born May 28, 1937, in Manila, Philippines, John Williamson was the son of the late Colonel John “Jack” and Alice (McAniff) Williamson.

The first-born child of a military family, John spent his childhood between Queens, New York, various army bases, and West Point, where his father taught after World War II.

John met Hayden Kurtz, the love of his life, in Long Island while attending Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. John and Hayden married in 1958 and quickly started a family.   

John’s early career was in naval design with Texaco and then Esso/Exxon. At Esso, he took a six-week training course to learn about a new tool called a “computer,” launching a career in information systems that spanned 33 years. John’s career with Esso took him and his family around the world. They lived in the Hague, Netherlands; Brussels, Belgium; Bogota, Colombia; Caracas, Venezuela; Miami, Florida; and Florham Park, New Jersey. 

John “ever-ready” Williamson enthusiastically embraced every opportunity offered within each community he lived in, including sailing, Scottish dancing, horseback riding/jumping, target shooting, cattle ranching, musical theater, choral singing, scuba diving, skiing, long-distance cycling, marathon running, triathlons, winemaking, clogging, playing the recorder and much, much more.   

After retiring from Esso/Exxon, John and Hayden moved to Boulder, Colorado. There, John earned an M.A. and Psy.D. in psychology and established a private practice specializing in treatment of ADHD and trauma. In his spare time, John joined the over 55+ ski club, biked the extensive Boulder trail system, climbed Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, and served as the president of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder. 

Following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, John and Hayden moved to Quarry Hill in Camden, Maine to be closer to family. Here he immediately joined the Midcoast Community Chorus, set up a men’s support group, joined the local Parkinson’s group, volunteered at the Sussman Hospice House with his poodle Addie, and rode his recumbent trike to the YMCA, Graffam’s lobster shack and the Rockport Harbor.  

John is survived by his wife of 65 years, Hayden (Kurtz) Williamson, of Camden; a son, Patrick Williamson and his wife, Suzanne of Boulder, Colorado; two daughters, Alice “Katey” Lazarchik and her husband Donald, of Bethesda, Maryland, and Teresa Randolph and her husband John “Whitney” of Rockport; five grandchildren: Bryce, Andrew, Emma, Emily and Stuart; and his siblings Kathleen Barmon, and Peter Williamson.

He is preceded in death by his brother Michael Williamson.

A private memorial service is planned for the summer. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Sussman Hospice House, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport ME 04856.

Condolence may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.