October 23, 2012

Feature obituary: John Conceison, 52, respected family man, lover of water

By Melanie Creamer mcreamer@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

SCARBOROUGH – John Conceison, a well-respected claims adjuster at State Farm Insurance, died Sunday following a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 52.

click image to enlarge

John Conceison and his three sons.

Family photo

PASSAGES

Each day the newsroom selects one obituary and seeks to learn more about the life of a person who has lived and worked in Maine. We look for a person who has made a mark on the community or the person's family and friends in lasting ways.

Though his work was important to him, nothing topped the love he had for his wife, Beth Conceison and their three sons.

Conceison was remembered on Tuesday as a devoted family man, who had a passion for life and lived each day to its fullest.

In his early years, he coached his son's Little League and baseball teams. He also taught his sons how to fish and lobster. His sons are now 20, 18 and 16 years old.

"He was a wonderful father," his wife said. "I'm so proud of John. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He had wonderful values of family, friends and his country. He lived that proud life, even fighting Lou Gehrig's disease. He fought it with dignity and never let it get him down."

Conceison was a homeowner claim representative at State Farm Insurance in South Portland for 25 years. Mike Gately, his supervisor, said he was a dedicated employee who was well-respected by his colleagues and their customers.

"John was the kind of guy that could do anything for anyone at any time," said Gately. "He was someone I could always count on to handle our most challenging claims. We're going to miss him terribly."

Conceison and his wife were married for 24 years. On Tuesday, she talked openly about their life together and his quest to live each day to its fullest.

She said in Sept. 1993, her husband was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He underwent treatment for his cancer and was cancer-free by the following year.

His brush with death helped change their perspective on life. The Conceisons went on a couple of cruises and trips to Washington, D.C. and New York City.

He had a passion for traveling and scuba diving. He also continued boating, fishing and lobstering in Casco Bay.

"That was the love of his life," his wife said of Conceison's love for the ocean. "It was a wonderful life. He was so much fun. We had a wonderful marriage and wonderful kids. We had a great life."

In June of 2011, Conceison was diagnosed with ALS, but he continued to live his life fully.

"No one should feel sad," his wife said. "He had a wonderful life. We enjoyed it. There wasn't anything left that he wanted to do. He lived his life to the fullest. He really did."

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:

mcreamer@pressherald.com

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