John Fortin Locke

LYNCHBURG, Va. – John Fortin Locke of Lynchburg, Va. died in Brunswick, Maine at Mid Coast Hospital on July 20, 2022.

John Locke was Founder and Chairman of Group Dynamic Inc., an employee benefits management company based in Maine and doing business in multiple States.

John was a lifelong yachtsman. He knew and loved Casco Bay and Frenchman’s Bay. His mastery of piloting was superb. As a young man, John travelled the rivers of Maine in canoes with Medomak Camp: the Kennebec, the Sheepscot and the Allagash Waterway from lake Chesuncook to Fort Kent. Mud Pond Carry and all. He could start a fire in any weather. He climbed Mount Katahdin many times.

John Locke was born on Feb. 20, 1948, in Boston, Mass. He graduated from Belmont Hill School in 1965 and from Bowdon College in the Class of 1970. After college, he went to Southern Maine Vocational Technical College to become an automotive mechanic. The mechanics of cars still fascinated him.

John married the love of his life Stephanie Gowan on July 12, 1969. She sadly passed away in 2019.

John and Stephanie lived in Portland and Harpswell for 50 years before retiring to Lynchburg, Va. In later years they also spent time in Southwest Harbor. During the past 20 years, the Locke’s have been generous donors to Maine Sea Coast Mission and their ship Sunbeam, also Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the Elijah Kellogg Church. They also provided many education scholarships for children to achieve their dreams. John and Stephanie had a love for God and a love for people that influenced their generous giving.

John Locke is survived by his brother William N. Locke Jr. of Pittsburgh, Pa., and his sister Elizabeth Locke Dodge of Harpswell; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A private funeral will be held in Harpswell. The arrangements are being made by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal Street, Brunswick, Maine 04011.