Obituary published on Legacy.com by Cote Funeral Home on Feb. 12, 2026.
Dr. John N. Rademacher, D.D.S.
Scarborough
Dr. John Norman Rademacher, D.D.S., passed away peacefully on Friday, January 30, 2026, at his residence in
Scarborough, ME.
John was born in East Aurora , NY on March 3, 1944 to John Henry "Jack" and Stella Kathleen "Kathy" (Sullivan) Rademacher. In that extended family replete with John Rademachers, he was known as Duffy.
He graduated from Iroquois Central High School in
Elma, NY in 1961. A bright, ambitious student, he gravitated to the sciences. He was a member of the school's championship fencing team, and was involved in student government. In summers, he worked for his family's roofing company, Rademacher Bros.
John earned his Bachelor of Science degree from St. Michael's College in
Burlington, VT, then his D.D.S. from Farleigh-Dickinson University in
Teaneck, NJ. While in Burlington, he met the beautiful, vivacious Patricia Senese. They married on June 10, 1967 in
Fairfield, CT, and later moved to
Newtown, CT where they raised their two sons. John joined a dental office in Fairfield, where he practiced until his retirement in 2007.
John was never one to be idle, and he believed in doing things to the best of his ability. In college, he didn't just enjoy swimming; he earned his lifeguard certification. He was a deft and gentle dentist, determined to cause his patients no pain. Despite his busy dental practice, he did his own home repair and vehicle maintenance. He chopped his own wood. He hunted and fished, proud to provide for his family in every way possible.
He enjoyed skiing and discovered he was a natural teacher, so he became a part-time ski instructor at Bretton Woods in NH. Families would request his lessons, having heard that he was calm and confident with children. When he got into boating, he got his small craft Captain's license; he and Patty would take week-long trips along the New England coast.
He was a dedicated husband, an involved father and grandfather, and a loyal friend. He was also prone to telling long-winded stories with groan-inducing, punny punchlines. When his eyes took on a suspicious twinkle, the family would start rolling their eyes long before he got to the end, but he was undeterred.
Upon his retirement, John and Patty moved to
Bethlehem, NH, where they built their dream house on the side of a mountain. When health concerns made remote living difficult, they left that dream behind and moved to
Old Orchard Beach, ME.
John leaves behind his wife Patty; sons John Michael "Mike" (Tara) of NH and Marc (Kim) of RI; granddaughters Iris (Jax) of OR, Sabrina of RI, Rachael and Lorelei of ME; his sister Julie of NY; brother-in-law Craig Rothmyer and nephew Jack Rothmyer of SC; sisters-in-law Marianne (Trygve) Depuis, Frances (Joe) Merhill, Monica (Anthony) Marchese, and Roberta (Mike) Smart; brother-in-law Fred Senese; numerous Rademacher cousins, and many long-time friends. He is predeceased by his parents; his sister Ann (Rademacher) Rothmyer; and his brother from another mother, Fred Perrone.
John did not want a funeral or memorial service. A celebration in his honor will be determined at a later date.