James John McLaughlin, 84, of Springvale, Maine, died April 14 at the Kennebunk Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Maine.

Born Feb. 14, 1922, in East Brady, he was a son of John James and Mary Margaret Adams McLaughlin.

After graduating high school, Jim enlisted in the Army/Air Force and subsequently survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed at Wheeler Air Force Base.

Jim received degrees in physical education, athletics and college administration from Slippery Rock State Teacher's College, Purdue University and Boston University.

Jim met his wife, Joan Ann Walsh, while working as a counselor at Twin Lake Camp for Boy's in Brandon, Vt. The two were married in 1952 and in 1959 moved from Yonkers, N.Y., to Springvale, where Jim took on the job of athletic director at Nasson College.

"Mac," as he was known, was instrumental to the development of Nasson's athletic program, including the Naismith Tournament, Shaw Field and the Recreation Area at Beaver Hill. As dean of students, Mac had a reputation of being tough but fair, always available, ever present and passionate about every young person being given the opportunity of an education. His colleagues identified him as an excellent speaker, author and friend.

After the closing of Nasson College in 1983, Jim became the president of Unity College.

Jim served the village of Springvale and town of Sanford as chairman of the finance committee, warrant committee, town meeting member, charter commission, selectman, superintending school committee and police commissioner to name a few of his volunteer elected jobs.

In addition, Jim served Maine on Governor Reed's Humanities Committee and other state committees.

Last fall, Mac was honored by several hundred alumni of Twin Lake Camp at a gathering in Burlington, Vt. The "Boys of Summer," now men, came from all over the world to say thank you to those who had affected their lives so many summers ago. Mac had touched their lives for 27 years as head counselor. They are now heads of major corporations, authors, artists, manufacturers, teachers, doctors and lawyers, and still consider Mac their mentor.

Jim is survived by his wife, Joan Ann; his daughter, Mary Lou McLaughlin of Marblehead, Mass., and her two sons, James Francis and Patrick Kenneth Trout; a son, Michael Francis and his wife and six children from Queen Anne, Md.; and an aunt, Martha Richey of East Brady.

<B>MCLAUGHLIN </B>— In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of James John McLaughlin, who died Friday, April 14, 2006, may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation, 10 Bangor St., Suite F Augusta, ME 04330.Arrangements are under the direction of the <B>Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home</B>, 580 Main St., Springvale, and condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com.