BIDDEFORD – John Savage Witham passed away Feb. 2, 2009, at home. He survived a liver transplant for several years. John was born Nov. 1, 1953, in Bangor, the son of Wallace Fernald Witham and Eugenia Savage Witham of Bangor, who predeceased him, as did his sister, Elizabeth Schulten Ismann of Princeton, N.J. John was a graduate of Brewer High School, Class of 1971. At that time, he formed his first band in the Bangor-Brewer area called “Chain Reaction.” John played bass guitar. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After that, John became well known for his music in the Portland area as “The Hollerin” man. At first, he played rock and reggae. Later on he wrote his own music and lyrics in country-style, telling his views of life as a liver transplant survivor with the hope of encouraging others who have undergone transplants. John is survived by his beloved son, Christopher Cloutier of Portland; brothers, Wallace Fernald Witham Jr. and his wife, Ellen Dore Witham, of Belleair Bluffs, Fla., and Paul Chapman Witham of Boston; sister, Margo Witham McGlone of Fairfield, Calif.; nieces, Jennifer Witham Berg and Karen Price Witham, both of San Francisco, and Susan Traylor of Shippensburg, Pa.; nephews, Christopher Schulten of New York City and Steven Robertson of Lake Worth, Fla.; and aunts, Barbara Thompson of Topsham and Priscilla Parkhurst of Northborough, Mass. He also leaves behind several cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews. The family thanks the veterans’ hospitals of Togus and of Pittsburgh, Pa., for the care, skill and support given by their staff to ease John during the past four years. A graveside service will be held noon Aug. 1 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Brewer.
JOHN SAVAGE WITHAM
