PORTLAND – There’s no place John Noble would rather have been than on the water.
Mr. Noble, known by many as “Tuck,” spent nearly every weekend last summer cruising around Casco Bay in his 23-foot Padebco center console boat, the “Prom Queen.”
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His son, Robert Noble of Boston, joined him most weekends. The Nobles cruised around Portland Harbor, dropping their fishing lines periodically. The older Noble enjoyed skirting the islands, anchoring at some of his favorite places to have lunch and talk about old times with his son.
He went as far Popham Beach to anchor and reminisce about the times he spent there with his late wife, Diane Noble, who died of breast cancer in November of 2008.
Robert Noble said on Friday that he’s grateful for the time he spent with his father, who died Wednesday at age 60, nearly a year after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
“I knew it would be his last summer,” his son said. “It was more important than anything in my life. Our time was precious. It meant the world to me.”
Mr. Noble was the founder of JFN Financial Services, a medical equipment leasing company with offices throughout Massachusetts and in Portland. He provided financing options for doctors and hospital administrators to purchase medical laser equipment.
His son said he was well-respected in the industry, from which he retired last year.
“My father was a relationships person, a people person,” his son said, noting that he worked with him briefly. “He loved his work. He loved that he worked with his best friends. He was able to provide for his family and show me an industry that I eventually fell in love with myself.”
Mr. Noble was remembered by his son and daughter Friday as a devoted husband and family man who provided a good life for their family.
He was married for 35 years and raised three children. One of his sons, John F. “Kip” Noble IV, died about five years ago.
Robert Noble said his father was proud, generous and loving. He said the family went skiing and took vacations together. He said they spent a lot of time on the water growing up.
“We grew up in an incredible house,” his son said. “My father always put us first. We were first with everything. He was a huge role model for me and my brother.”
Around 2001, Mr. Noble and his wife moved from Massachusetts to Portland’s East End neighborhood. The couple bought a home on the Eastern Promenade, which overlooks Casco Bay and the marina where he kept his boat, affectionately named for his wife, whom he considered, ‘the queen of Portland’s Eastern Promenade.’
He enjoyed walking along the promenade with his chocolate Labrador, Millie.
For the past six months, his daughter, Kelly Noble of Portland, devoted herself to taking care of her father.
A couple of days before he died, Mr. Noble was uncomfortable and in pain, complaining of a sore back. He died in his sleep early Wednesday morning.
“I feel sad that he’s not here anymore, but I feel almost guilty because I have a sense of relief,” his son said. It’s hard to see someone so close to you in that much pain and suffering.
“Toward the end, I know he wanted to be with my mother. I’ll miss his smile and his laugh. He was such an example of the person I want to be every day.”
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com
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