John Andrew Serbin

ST. MARY’S, Ga. – John Andrew Serbin, 81, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2021 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on Nov. 15, 1939 in Brooklyn, N.Y., the only child of John and Anna (Hayko) Serbin. He was raised in Queens, N.Y. graduating from William Cullen Bryant High School, New York City, N.Y.

He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Central European History from Queens College, Long Island, N.Y. Additionally, he attended the University of Iowa Law School for two years but decided to pursue a career in the insurance industry.

Before leaving for Iowa City, he met his future wife Paulette Watson from Dover, N.H. in New York City while she was working as an Occupational Therapist. They were later married on June 16, 1962 in Iowa City, Iowa. They settled in Ipswich, Mass. where he started as an insurance agent for the John Hancock Life Insurance Company, later becoming the youngest general agent in the history of the company in Wakefield, Mass. thus beginning a nearly 30-year career in insurance and investments.

In 1972, John and Paulette, now with daughter Jennifer and son Drew (John Andrew), moved to Cape Elizabeth where he became the Director of Agencies at Union Mutual Life Insurance Company (now UNUM) in Portland.

In 1980 he left Union Mutual to become General Agent for Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance located in Portland. Building on his ability to create relationships, he founded Investment Resource Services (IRS) providing investment and financial tax-planning to better round the company’s portfolio of services.

In 1988 he left Connecticut Mutual in pursuit of other opportunities and successfully continued his career in management and sales roles in the investment, employment and automobile industries before retiring to Southeast Georgia.

He was a member of the Purpooduck Club in Cape Elizabeth and he enjoyed cruising the Maine Coast with his wife Paulette, family, and friends on his trawler, The Blue Chip.

He was predeceased by his parents, Anna (Hayko) and John Serbin.

He leaves behind his devoted wife, Paulette of Kingsland, Ga.; daughter, Jennifer Holub (Patrick), of Springfield, Va. and son, Drew Serbin (Sandra), of Scarborough. His four granddaughters whom he cherished, include Meghan and Mackenzie Holub, Ava and Alexandra Serbin.

A graveside ceremony at Riverside Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth and a celebration of life will be planned in Maine later this summer.

The family wishes to thank Intrepid Home Health; the doctors, nurses, staff and specialists from the Southeast Georgia Health System in St. Mary’s, Ga.; along with the staff of Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick, Ga., who all provided him with such amazing care.

If you wish to donate in

the memory of John,

please consider:

The National Parkinson’s Foundation or the

Michael J. Fox Foundation


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