Edgecomb recalled as mentor and friend
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
MAPLETON — A longtime municipal leader’s recent death has left a void not only in the communities of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill for which he served as town manager for 15 years but in cities and towns throughout the state by municipal leaders who relied on his knowledge and expertise to help them navigate governing issues affecting their respective regions.
John Y. Edgecomb, son of Wilbur “Satch” and Margaret (Cliff) Edgecomb, lost his battle with cancer on Nov. 1. In his 66 years of life, Edgecomb touched countless lives, including two local municipal leaders who credit him with helping shape their careers and instilling lifelong lessons of caring for those you serve.
“I was fortunate enough to get to work with him. He stayed onboard during the transition period when I came to Mapleton. His passion for the community and its citizens was evident from Day 1,” said Martin Puckett, deputy city manager for Presque Isle and former town manager for the tri-community area of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill.
“John was one of Maine’s three Range Riders — retired managers who help other managers or new managers transition in the field,” said Puckett.
In 1974, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Range Rider Program was established by the ICMA Executive Board to make the counsel, experience and support of respected, retired managers of the profession available to local, county and chief administrators and their assistants.
Puckett said Edgecomb served in a volunteer capacity.
“If you were in municipal management and wanted career advice, he’d take the time to give it. He cared so much about his profession,” said Puckett, recalling his first encounter with Edgecomb some years ago.
“As a young manager starting out going to conferences, John would speak on how three communities worked together. He’d explain how these three towns were able to unite and work together. We was an advocate for the progressive movement of towns working together,” Puckett said, noting Edgecomb continued to share that knowledge even after retiring from town management. “As a Range Rider, he’d give his communities as an example of how it could work.”
Puckett said Edgecomb “saw the writing on the wall,” doing a lot for communities, including through legislation, to help towns collaborate.
“Even after retirement, John kept involved and on top of what was going on,” said Puckett. “He was always operating behind the scenes and wanted to get things done. He was always saying ‘we did this’ or ‘we did that.’ He was never one to take the credit alone.”
“I learned a great deal from John,” said Puckett.
For Jim Gardner, Easton’s town manager, a working relationship quickly evolved into a strong friendship between him and Edgecomb, as the two found their paths continually crossing in municipal government.
“We did a lot together. We were the first to take on Presque Isle Solid Waste and brought to tonnage for the six communities (Edgecomb managed Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill, while Gardner was town manager of Washburn and assisted with solid waste issues for Perham and Wade),” said Gardner.
Prior to becoming a manager, Gardner served as code enforcement officer in Mapleton, under Edgecomb.
“I worked for John as code officer in Mapleton. John was a real remarkable person, full of good humor,” said Gardner.
Gardner was impressed with Edgecomb’s knowledge and how adept he was at managing the three communities as one entity.
“John knew what to do. He was the first to do the three-town management style. I had the pleasure of working with him for 18 years,” said Gardner. “That was nice. He taught me a lot.”
When Gardner became town manager in Washburn, he found himself turning to Edgecomb for advice from time to time.
“In 1999 when I got into management in Washburn, John was my go-to guy,” said Gardner.
Gardner said Edgecomb’s management style was simple but effective.
“‘Do what you think is best for the people’ is what John would say. ‘Whatever’s best for the people’ is how I’ll remember John,” said Gardner. “That’s what he instilled in people.”
“He was just a good guy,” said Gardner. “I’ll miss him.”
A memorial service was held Nov. 3 at the Presque Isle Congregational Church. Donations in Edgecomb’s memory can be sent to: Aroostook House of Comfort, PO Box 867, Presque Isle, ME 04769 or the Presque Isle Congregational Church, PO Box 1787, Presque Isle, ME 04769. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com. His complete obituary can be found in the obituary section.
