John K. Moulton, 88

FALMOUTH - John K. Moulton, 88, of Falmouth, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003 at Maine Medical Center.

Mr. Moulton was born on July 8, 1914 in Hartford, Conn., the son of Jasper Roland Moulton and Edith Knight Moulton. He was a 1932 graduate of Wellesley High School and a 1936 graduate of Harvard College. He received a master's degree from Harvard in 1940 and a master's degree from Bowdoin College in 1962. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in education from Bowdoin College in 1970.

Mr. Moulton was a public school teacher in Massachusetts from 1937-1968; the majority of that time he taught mathematics at Brookline High School. In 1967, he was one of five finalists for The National Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by Look magazine. He taught mathematics at Northeastern College from 1965-1968 and was a professor of mathematics at the University of Southern Maine from 1968-1978. He was the author of two college texts in mathematics and the founder of the Association of Advanced Placement Teachers in Mathematics, headquartered in Milton, Mass.

Mr. Moulton spent summers on Peaks Island, then Chebeague Island, from 1915 through the 1960s.

Following his retirement in 1978, Mr. Moulton was active in volunteer work for Greater Portland Landmarks, the Emergency Department of Maine Medical Center, the Museum at Portland Head Light and the Portland Marine Society. Mr. Moulton wrote four books of local history including "Portland Marine Society, 1796-1996: A Bicentennial History," (with Nicholas Dean) and "Captain Moody and His Observatory," the only history of the Portland Observatory. He was also a member of the Portland Observatory Restoration Trust, the private organization that worked with the city of Portland to restore the observatory.

Mr. Moulton was a member of the Maine Historical Society, Portland Marine Society, Maine Maritime Museum, Greater Portland Landmarks and the Laudholm Trust.

He was predeceased by his wife, Miriam, who died in August 5, 1985.

Surviving are his sister, Margaret M. Sullivan of Middlebury, Vt.; two daughters, Miriam A. Moulton of Chebeague Island and Deborah K. Moulton, of Gray; and four grandchildren, David, Deborah, John and Kathryn Tyler; and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at the First Parish Congregational Church, 116 Main St., Yarmouth. Interment at the Cousins Island Cemetery will take place in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Greater Portland Landmarks or the Maine Historical Society.