James Mahar

SCARBOROUGH — James Eugene Mahar, affectionately known as Gene, 97, of Scarborough, passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, March 29, 2015, at the Gosnell Hospice House.

Born in Newark, N.J., the son of William Garfield Mahar and Mary Carney Mahar, he graduated from Norwood High School, Hebron Academy and the University of Maine in Orono in 1945.

After serving as a Merchant Marine, he began work for Shell Oil in Ohio and then moved to Dallas, Texas, where he worked for LingTemco Vought. It was there he met and married Anna Johnson in 1954, after which they moved to Acton, Mass. to raise their three children. Retiring from Raytheon as an aeronautical engineer in 1983, Gene and Anna enjoyed many years of retirement with friends between Bridgton and Boynton Beach, Fla.

Gene and his family enjoyed 38 years of camping at Vicki Lin’s Campground on Long Lake in Bridgton. Starting out in a tent for just two weeks each summer, the good times ended up being extended to entire summers of campfires and boating, and winter months of snowmobiling. It was there that many of Gene’s best friendships and family memories were made.

There wasn’t a home project or a mechanical challenge that Gene couldn’t tackle. We’ll think of him when we celebrate a Red Sox win or read a great spy novel. Whether he played on a baseball field, bowled a great string in candlepins or traveled with the Scarborough “Out to Lunch” bunch, he’d enjoy these friends and tales they all shared. An animal lover, Gene especially enjoyed spoiling Tootsie, his cat. There will not be a jelly donut or macaroon that won’t remind us of him.

Gene is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Anna; his three children, Elaine Moloney of Cape Elizabeth, Gary Mahar of Lunenburg, Mass. and Janet Andrews of Cape Elizabeth; his sister, Janet McAuliffe of Norwood, Mass.; two nieces and a nephew; and six grandchildren.

As he’d always say, “Don’t be a stranger,” we know he’ll visit us often in our memories.

Arrangements were made by Hobbs Funeral Home, 671 US Route One, Scarborough. Online condolences may be shared at www.hobbsfuneralhome.com

Memorial donations may be made in Gene’s memory to The Animal Refuge League or a charity of your choice.