John Alan Berkeley

KENNEBUNK – John Alan Berkeley, 78, of Kennebunk, passed away peacefully on Oct. 19, 2025. His family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team at Seal Rock in Saco, who cared for him during the last year of his life.

John was born in West Roxbury, Mass., to the late Edward J. Berkeley and Hannah V. Smith. He spent most of his life in Massachusetts, living in Burlington, Medford, Dracut and Chelmsford, before settling in Maine in his later years.

A graduate of the University of Lowell, John earned his bachelor’s degree in plastics engineering while balancing the demands of family and work. He worked a full-time job (as well as part-time jobs) while attending school part-time at night, determined to build a better life for his family through hard work and persistence. During his early years, John married Susan Silva, with whom he shared many years and raised two children, John and Gail.

John began his career at Polaroid Corporation in an entry-level role and, through more than 40 years of dedication and innovation, retired as a Senior Principal Research and Development Engineer. He was proud of his long career and the contributions he made to the company’s success. It was at Polaroid where John met his future wife, Andrea, with whom he spent 25 years.

John had a true engineer’s mind. He was curious, inventive, and always eager to understand how things worked. He also loved collecting and building models of all types. He had a lifelong love of speed and an appreciation for powerful machines. Whether it was his racing boat with a Ford 427 Side Oiler engine in his younger years, or his Z06 Corvette he proudly drove in his seventies, he found joy and fascination in a high-performance engine. That same drive, curiosity, and appreciation for how things work carried through every part of his life.

After retirement, he and his wife, Andrea, cherished their time at their seaside cottage, where they found peace and joy together. John was also incredibly handy and took great pride in his ability to fix and build things. Over the years, he completed countless home projects and renovations, both at the cottage and in the homes he owned, always finding satisfaction in seeing his hard work take shape.

John’s later years brought challenges, but through the ups and downs, he continued to show resilience and patience. Through it all he was able to keep his witty sense of humor.

John was predeceased by his wife, Andrea Ericson; and his sister, Beverly Berkeley. He is survived by his son, John Daniel Berkeley (Sara) of Boothbay, his daughter, Gail Berkeley Blandford (David), of Windham, N.H.; his granddaughter, Samantha Blandford, of Windham, N.H. He is also survived by his brother, David Berkeley (Gloria), of Manchester, N.H.; his nephew, Alan Berkeley (Annette), of Yarmouthport, Mass., his niece, Wendy Berkeley (Mike Curran) of Somersworth, N.H.; as well as two grandnieces and a grandnephew.

Services will be private. Per their wishes, this summer, John and his beloved wife, Andrea, will be celebrated in a unique and joyful way. Their ashes will be joined and launched together in a firework, returning them to the sky and sea they both loved.

We also invite you to visit their memorial bench at Harrington Cemetery in Bristol. Designed together years ago, it is set above a peaceful cove. It’s a fitting place of rest for two people who loved the quiet beauty of Maine and the sea that was such a part of their lives.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence please visit John’s Book of Memories Page at http://www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043.