Former Saco Mayor leaves behind legacy of community service

Former Saco Mayor William “Bill” Johnson, a well-known community advocate, died at the age of 92 on Sunday.

Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail led the City Council in a moment of silence at Monday night’s Council meeting.

Johnson served three terms – six years- as a Saco City Councilor and three terms – six years as Mayor of Saco. He was also the first honorary member of the Saco Fire Department, said MacPhail. Johnson served the Thornton Academy Development Board and the Alumni Board of the University of Maine. He received many community service awards, including the Southern Maine Council on Aging Award for 2003 and a Paul Harris Fellow award.

When Johnson left office in 2003, he was appointed Mayor Emeritus by the Saco City Council. As Mayor Emeritus, he represented the city at ribbon cuttings and other ceremonies, and welcomed new businesses to Saco. He also visited schools and talked to students about government and government service, said MacPhail.

School Board Member and former City Councilor Kevin Roche said Bill Johnson and his wife Mary were “such nice people” and very welcoming to him as he became more involved in local government.

Johnson “was a dear, fantastic gentleman,” said Roche, and Saco is so much better for having him as a resident.

When the Johnsons decided they were too old to care for their two beloved donkeys, they donated the animals to Sweetser’s residential school. According to the Sweetser website, Johnson visited the donkeys frequently and he and his wife threw the donkeys a birthday party, providing carrots and apples for the donkeys and cake for the staff and students.

The Johnsons also established a spiritual growth fund at First Parish Congregational Church in Saco to support professional development and training programs for staff and volunteers at the church, according to the church’s website.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.