ISLESBORO — John Patrick "Jack" Schlottman, 62, of Islesboro, died Thursday, October 1, at Pen Bay Medical Center of pancreatic cancer. Born March 12, 1964, in Philadelphia, he was the son of Neil J. and Marie (Atmore) Schlottman. 

 

A graduate of Elizabethtown College, in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, he was a sportswriter, first for the Bethlehem (Pa.) Globe Times. In 1988, he was on the list to be laid off as part of a 15% staff reduction at the Globe. His job was saved because he had just won a national prize from the Associated Press Sports Editors about a public food fight between high school athletes. 

 

He later became a sports columnist for the (Easton, Pa.) Express (later the Express-Times), primarily covering the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies. In that role, he covered Super Bowls and World Series.  

 

It was at the Express where he met his future wife, Rebecca "Becky" Schnur. The two celebrated their 33rd anniversary in August. In 1998, he gave up journalism and moved with his wife to Washington, Maine. Later, the couple built a home on Islesboro adjacent to his father-in-law’s property.  

 

In 2003, the couple adopted from India their daughter, Ava, who was 18 months old. Jack became an enthusiastic and involved stay-home-father. He coached T-ball in Washington, and later basketball on Islesboro. He and Ava texted multiple times a day until his final days. 

 

Jack earned his MFA in Creative Writing from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. His final project, a book of short stories titled “Wearing Bare Feet,” described life as a stay-at-home father and husband. Friends will recall his story about finding a snake in the basement as one he dined out on for years. 

 

In his final year, Jack and Becky had remodeled their Islesboro house and finally sold the one in Washington to live on the island full time in retirement. They had enjoyed several European trips and were looking forward to more travel when he received his devastating diagnosis earlier this summer. 

 

In addition to his wife and daughter, Jack is survived by his mother-in-law, Susan Schnur, of Islesboro; father-in-law, Marc Schnur of Bradenton, Florida, and Islesboro; brother-in-law, Michael Schnur and his wife Jody Comins of Portland; his nieces, Talia and Elizabeth Schnur of New York City; and a sister, Ann Marie Schlottman of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  

 

His parents predeceased him. 

 

There will be no funeral. Shiva (a memorial service) will take place Sunday, October 4 through Thursday, October 8, from 5:45 - 7 p.m., at 710 Main Road, in Islesboro. The service will be held at 6 p.m. A Zoom only service will take place on Saturday (October 10) starting at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to join the service on Zoom. Meeting ID: 843 4355 8278 Passcode: shiva1

 

Those coming from Lincolnville should take the 5 p.m. ferry from Lincolnville. Transportation will be provided to the home and transportation will be arranged from Islesboro back to Lincolnville. If you are planning on taking the ferry, please contact Rabbi Erica Asch (rabbiasch@gmail.com) to ensure transportation while on the island. 

 

Donations in Jack's memory may be made to:

Islesboro Ambulance Association

PO Box 277

Islesboro, ME 04848

or the 

Islesboro Health Center

150 Main Road

PO Box 137

Islesboro, ME 04848