The University of Maine community joins with students, alumni, faculty and staff of Maine Business School in mourning the passing of Professor Emeritus John Mahon, who died on October 20 at the age of 73.
A Celebration of Life will take place on November 13 in the Donald P. Corbett Business Building. Refreshments will be served at 11:30 am in the atrium; the ceremony will start at 12:30 p.m. at the Devino auditorium (100 DPC). Those present or wishing to share memories at the ceremony are asked to confirm their attendance with Nory Jones, [email protected]. A Zoom link for the event is also available: https://maine.zoom.us/j/86363472571.
Mahon was Emeritus Professor of International Business, Politics and Strategy and Professor of Management, and Distinguished Professor of Maine in 2017. He joined Maine Business School in January 2001 after a 23-year career as a faculty member at Boston University School of Management. During his tenure at UMaine, Mahon also served as Acting Provost, 2004-06, and Principal of the Maine Business School and Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy, and Health, 2007-10. He retired in 2019.
Mahon has inspired countless students at Maine Business School with his passion, innovation and total dedication to them. He was particularly interested in helping students explore the world, leading undergraduate and graduate courses in Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic, South Africa and in Russia. He also had a huge impact on graduates, receiving many notes from alumni thanking him for helping them achieve meaningful and rewarding careers.
Colleagues remember Mahon as “one of those very rare and imposing figures in the classroom who have such an impact on the students that they are remembered for life.” Mahon was a transformative leader who cared deeply for his students, fellow faculty, and the Maine Business School. Her life was “well lived in the service of others and its impact is engraved in the hearts and minds of the people of this community”.
Mahon has published over 300 articles, cases, books and book chapters, and has won 12 national awards for his writing and research focused on how organizations shape or use reputation to influence public policy initiatives, plan and implement strategies and respond to an organizational crisis. He was also considered one of the world’s foremost experts in corporate social responsibility. Mahon received the 2011 Presidential Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Achievement from UMaine.
He is survived by his wife, Julia; her daughter Elizabeth and her husband Sherwin; granddaughter, Alannah; and sister, Marie.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UMaine’s scholarship fund on her behalf: online at http://our.maine.edu/mahon or by sending a letter to the University of Maine Foundation, 2 Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792, with a note for the John F. Mahon Scholarship Fund.
