John O. Bond, Sr.

John Oscar Bond, Sr. 85 beloved husband of Jean Marie Bauer Bond, of Waterside Lane died Monday 15 August 2022.

Born in Eliot, Maine on March 27, 1937, he was the son of the late Arthur Richard and Virginia (Fernald) Bond. He Graduated from Eliot High School in 1955 where he was a star athlete in football and especially baseball and served six years in the U.S. Naval Reserves, two of them aboard the submarine U.S.S. Tusk, SS426.  In 1964 he graduated from the Apprentice Shipfitter Program and in 1969 he graduated from the Apprentice Engineering Technician Naval Architectural Program; both at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he was employed for thirty years and eight months before retiring in 1991 as a Senior Naval Architect Technician.

His civic affiliations include several years as a Little League Coach, Past President and Trustee of the Eliot High School Alumni Association, being commissioned as a “Kentucky Colonel”, serving on his church Finance Committee, and being a church Trustee of the First Parish Federated Church.  He is a member of and plank owner of the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. and a member of the Old Berwick Historical Society.

He was a dedicated member of the Masonic Fraternity.  John was raised a Master Mason in St. John’s Lodge No. 51 F. & A.M. in South Berwick on May 20, 1968.  He was named Architect of their new lodge in 1971 and served as Worshipful Master in 1973.  In April of 1978 he was named St. John’s Mason of the year for the 19th Masonic District.  In 2001 he received the district’s Stone Dust Award in recognition and appreciation of his dedication and service to the craft, was appointed Grand Senior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Maine, and served as secretary of St. John’s Lodge from 2002-2007 and served the Grand Lodge of Maine as District Deputy Grand Master of the 19th Masonic District from 2012 to 2014.  He has been chairman of the Board of Trustees and a Past President of the South Berwick Masonic Temple Association.  He’s also was a member of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Degree Team.

John was exalted in Unity Royal Arch Chapter on April 8, 1969, served as High Priest in 1974 and 1975, and has been an officer ever since.  He was appointed Grand Captain of the Host of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine in 1974, served as a District Deputy Grand High Priest from 1990-1993, and elected Grand High Priest in 2000.  He was the Grand Representative to New Hampshire and Connecticut from Maine, is a Past President of Maine Council Order of High Priesthood, a member of the G.R.A.C. Degree Team, and held honorary membership in the Grand Chapters of NH, VT, RI, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

  On  November 22, 1969 he was greeted in Maine Council No. 7 of Royal and Select Masters in Saco and served as Illustrious Master in 1978.  He was a member of Thrice Illustrious Masters, Order of the Silver Trowel.  In 2008 he was elected to the Grand Line in the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Maine, and elected   M.I. Grand  Master in 2013. He is the Grand Representative to New Hampshire from Maine.

Knighted in St. Amand Commandery No. 20 in West Kennebunk on December 4, 1969, John was elected Eminent Commander in 1976.  He was Recorder-Treasurer from 1977 to 1981 and has continued as Treasurer to 2014. He’s the Grand Representative to Vermont from Maine and has served as President of the Past Commanders Association of Maine.  In 1980 he was elected Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Maine and elected Right Eminent Grand Commander in 1985.  From 1988-1996 he was elected Grand Treasurer and has been Associate Grand Treasurer ever since and was elected Grand Treasurer Emeritus in 1988.  He served as President of the Past Grand Commanders Association.  In 1992 he received the Knight Commander of the Temple Award from Grand Encampment. John was appointed Right Eminent Department Commander of the Northeastern Department (Maine to D.C.) for the Triennium 1994-1997 for the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America.  He served as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Commandery of Maine from 1988 to 1995, and Grand Recorder from 2009 to 2012.  He has been the coordinator for Grand Encampment on the Easter Sunrise Service in Virginia and a Member of the Committee on Patriotic and Civic Activities.  He’s a charter member of Inri Commandery No. 4 (now Marvin E. Fowler No.7) in Washington, D.C., a member of the Knight Crusaders, a Past President of the Forty-Fivers Association of Grand Commanders, and holds honorary membership in the Grand Commanderies of NJ, OH, PA, and VT.

John is a Past Puissant Sovereign of Maine Conclave No. 1 Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine in Portland and a Past Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign of the Grand Imperial Council Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Appendant Orders for the State of Maine.  He so enjoyed his trip to Paris, France for the Annual Assembly of France as their invited guest.

In 1975 John became a member of the Lodge, Council, Chapter, and Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Valley of Portland.  In 1989 he served as Master of Yates Lodge of Perfection and was also President of the Springvale-Sanford Pioneer Scottish Rite Club.  He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33rd degree in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 3, 1995.  He was chairman of the Board of Governors for the 32nd degree Masonic Learning Center for Children in Portland, Maine in 2006-2009.

His other memberships in Masonic Bodies include Past Prior of Pine Tree Priory No. 65 KYCH, Past President of Maine Council No. 1 Past Officers Association of Maine, Past Preceptor Cross and Crown Tabernacle No. LIII Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, Past President and Trustee of DeMolay and Pine Tree Youth Foundation, Past Master of Joshua L. Chamberlain Council No. 354 Allied Masonic Degrees, Past Excellent Chief of Pine Cone Council No. 31 Knight Masons, Past President of National Sojourners, Portland Chapter No. 92, Past Commander of General Henry Knox Camp Heroes of “76”, past secretary/treasurer and past Chief Adept of Maine College Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis, Dirigo York Rite College, the Maine Lodge of Research, the New Hampshire Society of Veteran Freemasons, the Grand College of Rites, USA, a life member of the Philalethes Society, member of the Secret Monitor, as well as a member of Sarah Orne Jewett Chapter No. 176 Order of the Eastern Star and a Past Advisory Board Member of Berwick Assembly No. 34 Rainbow for girls.

He was predeceased by his wife Carol L. Bond in 2006, a brother Richard L. Bond, sisters Beverly Ellis, Carol Tugan and a grandson Michael Bond. He is survived by his loving wife, best friend and confidant Jean Marie Bauer Bond, Sons John O. Bond, Jr. and his wife Patti of York; James B. Bond and his wife Mardi of Denmark, ME; and Daughters Ann B. Veino and husband Robert of Eliot; and Dr. Cheryl L. Dozier, PhD and husband Joseph Chiseri of Voorheesville, NY; sisters; Joyce Warrell of Lebanon; Norma Short of Lebanon; numerous nieces and nephews; and grandchildren Ian and Patrick Bond; Jaremy Bond, Jessica Lazzaro; Brianne Veino; and Katharine, Michael, and Nicholas Chiseri; great grandsons Kynen Gagnon, Domanik, Anthony and James Luis Bond.

A time of visitation will be held Monday, August 22  at the Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market Street, North Berwick, ME from 10am to 12pm with Masonic Services immediately followed by a funeral at 12pm.  Interment with military honors will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, South Berwick ME

Family flowers only please.  If desired, memorial donations in his name may be made to: St. John’s Lodge, Permanent Fund or Valley of Portland, (Learning Center), 415 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101                   

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