John Mahan

NEWTON, Massachusetts - John Mahan, age 77, died peacefully on Thursday, January 24, 2013, at the Waban Health Rehabilitation Center in Newton, MA.Born in Newport, RI, on February 26, 1935, he was the son of the late Ludlow P. Mahan and Barbara (Stewart) Mahan. He was the brother of the late Ludlow P. Mahan, Jr. He was formerly married to the late Judith (Dutra) Mitchell.He is survived by his children, Theodore Hess-Mahan of Newton, MA, and Colleen Mahan of Greene, ME, his sister Barbara Finney, nephew Lee Finney and niece Edith Freeborn, all of Newport, RI, and his four grandchildren, Bridget, Corey and Maura Hess-Mahan of Newton, MA, and Kyla Wallace of Greene, ME.Mr. Mahan graduated from Rogers High School in 1953. He received a Bachelor of Music from Yale University in 1958, and a Master of Music Education from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1971. He worked as a music teacher and Director of Bands and Orchestras at Classical High School in Providence, RI, and Franklin High School in Franklin, MA, for most of his career. He was a professional musician who once played oboe in the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, and sang and played piano, clarinet and other instruments in church, and in various choirs, bands and orchestras, throughout his life.John's greatest joys in life were his music, reading, spending time with his family, and watching his grandchildren grow.His funeral services will be private.