UMM official dies before graduation

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MACHIAS – A campus and community Sunday mourned the death of University of Maine at Machias President John H. Joseph, who died unexpectedly just before the start of Saturday’s graduation ceremonies.

The popular 60-year-old college president died of an apparent heart attack as he was shaking hands with students who were lining up for the traditional processional from Tory Hall to the gymnasium. Some students trained in resuscitation attempted to revive Joseph, but he did not respond.

He was taken by ambulance to Down East Community Hospital, where he died.

Faculty and staff were told before the ceremonies that Joseph had collapsed.

“This is a sad, sad day for our state,” said University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph W. Westphal in a prepared release. “John Joseph was a strong and visionary president who had made great strides in building his university’s quality and reputation. His loss is tragic and painful. My heart goes out to his wife and family, and to his many friends and colleagues on and off campus.”

A spokesman for the university system said officials will determine soon who will serve as interim successor and how the university will proceed in finding a new president. Typically, a university’s vice president of academic affairs is considered the No. 2 person on campus and would serve as interim president. But David Rosen, UMM’s vice president for academic affairs, has taken a new position with an out-of-state school and is in the process of leaving.

Joseph was hired as university president in July 2000.

Joseph earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Pennsylvania State University. His 27-year higher education career included leadership positions at Roosevelt University in Illinois and at Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg.

On Saturday morning, Joseph was with Francine Cousteau, wife of the late international explorer Jacques Cousteau, for an interview with a daily newspaper. She was there to give the keynote address and to accept an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

Joseph said Saturday that he had written to The Cousteau Society and was elated when she accepted. “I wrote a letter that contained all of my passion about our institution and about why I think she should join us for commencement,” he said.

Joseph said UMM’s trademark academic programs in marine biology, environmental studies and biology had much in common with goals of The Cousteau Society.

“No organization and no individual really resonates more with what we see ourselves doing as an educational institution than The Cousteau Society and Francine Cousteau,” he said.

After the interview, Joseph accompanied Cousteau to a campus luncheon with members of the board of trustees, faculty, staff and supporters. While introducing Cousteau to the small crowd, Joseph omitted two people. He drew laughter when he told one couple that he usually forgot to introduce someone each year and they now had joined a select group.

When lunch was over, Joseph and Cousteau walked from the administration building to Tory Hall where they were to don their caps and gowns.

Dennis Tracy, who works for Monty Rand Photography of Bangor, and who had been hired by the university to take pictures, followed the couple to the building.

Tracy said they were in the hallway when the president collapsed. “It was unbelievable,” he said.

Tracy said that a graduate, later identified as Sam Begin of Portland, an emergency medical technician, ran down the hall and began to administer CPR. Another graduate later identified as Susanne Kynast of Germany assisted him, but, according to school officials, Joseph did not respond.

Wickham Skinner, a member of the University of Maine System board of trustees, informed the nearly 1,500 graduates, their family and friends that Joseph had collapsed and been taken to the hospital. He asked for a moment of silence.

Skinner then performed the ceremonial duties usually handled by the president.

After graduation, faculty and staff gathered in the bookstore and learned that Joseph had died of a massive heart attack.

On Sunday, friends and colleagues expressed admiration for the president.

“President Joseph was the most capable and visionary leader with whom I’ve ever worked,” said Rosen, vice president of academic affairs, in a prepared release. “John Joseph had the most profound impact on shaping this campus of any administrator that I’ve known in the last 23 years; he was a genius.”

Susan Palmer, director of advancement at the university, said Joseph loved Washington County. “He had grown to love this area from the first day he came, and he wanted the very best for this institution and the people of the area,” she said.

William Flahive, president of the Washington County Technical College in Calais, who worked closely with Joseph, said he was shocked and saddened by the news. “John had a disarming sense of humor, and I remember when people would ask about the relationship between WCTC and UMM, he laughingly would say that we had a ‘coopertition’ relationship,” he said.

His wife of 37 years, Marlene, a daughter, Ashley Joseph McGettigan, and two grandchildren, Lauren Mary and John Joseph McGettigan, survive him.

A memorial scholarship in Joseph’s name is being established. University officials asked that contributions be sent to the Advancement Office.

A memorial service is tentatively planned for 1 p.m. Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.