John J. Preston

Stratham – John James Preston, 96, of Stratham and formerly of North Hampton, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital. John was born in Lowell, MA on February 27, 1926, a son of the late Richard F. and Margaret (Burke) Preston. He shared over 33 years of beautiful marriage with his late wife, Maurine (McSorley) Preston who died in 1988. John was raised in Lowell and was a graduate of the former Keith Academy. After high school, and at only 17 years old, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his country proudly and honorably in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres of Operation during World War II onboard the amphibious landing craft, USS LCS (L) #122 and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for injuries he sustained in combat. Additionally, he served 6 months in Japan as part of the occupation force after the Japanese surrender. He returned home from the war and went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree from St. Anselm College and later his Master’s from Boston College. He and Maurine were married in 1955 and started their family in Lowell before relocating to North Hampton. John was an educator for 41 years. He started his career a staff member at Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Nashua for 5 years before moving to the Seacoast where he worked in the Hampton School District as a teacher, administrator and guidance counselor until his retirement in 1993. His later years were spent devoting his time to his grandchildren and was deeply involved in their educational and spiritual lives. John was a daily communicant at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Hampton and a longtime volunteer at the Sacred Heart School and St. Vincent de Paul Society in Hampton as well as many years with the NH SPCA in Stratham. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Ellen Flies and her husband, Raymund of Bonita Springs, FL, Barbara Preston and her partner Jeni Mosca of Stratham, NH, Mark Preston of Seabrook, NH and Michael Preston and his wife, Mary of Falmouth, MA. He also leaves his grandchildren; Matthew Preston and his wife Jamie, Marcia Preston and her fiancé Michael Shea, Maurine Preston Dahlbloom and her husband Arvid, Timothy Preston and his wife, Meghan and Daniel Preston. In addition, he is survived by three great grandchildren. In addition to his parents and his wife, John was predeceased by his brothers, Richard, Russell and Robert. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 6 PM on Thursday, October 13, 2022 in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home – Crematory, 811 Lafayette Rd., Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Friday at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 289 Lafayette Rd., Hampton. Burial will follow beside his beloved Maurine in the Center Cemetery, North Hampton. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 289 Lafayette Rd., Hampton, NH 03842, online at https://svdphampton.com/ or to a charity of one’s choosing.

John J. Preston

February 27, 1926 - October 8, 2022