John W. Sheldon
John W. Sheldon, 92, of Pemaquid, passed away at his home on the morning of July 26.
John was born July 23, 1923, the son of Waldo and Priscilla Sheldon of Wilson Point, and grew up in South Norwalk, Conn.
He spent his summers on High Island in South Bristol. He attended Exeter Academy and went on to graduate from Yale University in 1944 with Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and Physics. As were many of his fellow classmates, he was drafted into the Naval Reserves, and served for two years on a destroyer in the Pacific arena. He went on to work towards a Ph.D. in physics from Columbia University.
He then went on to work for Aramco and later for IBM, assisting with IBM's first computer system. In 1955, John cofounded and was vice president of the first independent company to market computer software, the Computer Usage Company. In 1970, he was involved in the founding of Ecology, Inc., a company devoted to converting waste byproducts into usable fertilizer.
In 1972, John and his wife, Virginie Bennett Sheldon, made the decision to reinvent himself, leave Connecticut, and begin a new life on High Island. It was here that he discovered a new passion, aquaculture. John began Marine BioServices Company in 1976. At first he raised oysters and then went on to raise clams, providing clam seed for the beds in Cape Cod as well as cultivating full-sized cherrystone clams on his lease in Great Salt Bay in Damariscotta.
John loved sailing and tennis and crossword puzzles, but his greatest passion was the game of bridge. He participated in a weekly men's bridge group and also enjoyed playing with his family and his summer neighbors on the island. He was working on physics problems for fun well into his later life, and, at the age of 90, was still making the four-hour drive to deliver his clam seed to Cape Cod.
John is survived by his daughters, Léonie Stone of Geneseo, N.Y., Priscilla Sheldon-Cost of Baltimore, Md., and Jennie Gilmore of South Bristol; and grandchildren, Jonathan Stone of Rochester, N.Y., Caitlin Cost of Baltimore, Md., and Veda Cost of Baltimore, Md.
The last years of his life were spent under the loving care of Joyce Taplan and her son, Thomas, in Pemaquid.
John was excited to see the recent photos of Pluto, had a desire to understand the Universe and how it works, and to live until we could fully understand the principles behind dark matter.
A private memorial service will be held on High Island in September. For more information, contact Jennie at (207) 332-0787 or jennie@odetopluto.com. John will be laid to rest alongside his parents at the Second Congregational Church in Greenwich, Conn.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.