John Smegal, January 28, 1957 — February 01, 2019

Obituary for John Smegal SPRUCE HEAD, ME – John A. Smegal, 62, died of cancer, Friday, February 1, 2019 at his beloved home in Spruce Head. John was one of four children of John E. and Assunta T. (Arci) Smegal and was raised in Farrell, a small town in western Pennsylvania. At a young age John fell in love with chemistry and, inspired by his high school chemistry teacher, went on to earn a B.S. degree at Penn State University in 1978 and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley in 1983.

After a post-doctoral appointment at Princeton University he joined the Shell Development Company in the Catalysis Department in Houston, TX in 1985. John enjoyed a very fulfilling and successful 30 year career at Shell where he developed more than twenty catalysts for use in the refining and petrochemical industry and received more than thirty patents worldwide. He retired to Maine in 2015 with his spouse James S. Zoller.

John and James met in Houston in 1993 but eventually discovered and fell in love with Maine in 2001, deciding to make it their part time and then full time home. They were married in Maine in 2013. John had many interests outside of chemistry and science including the repair and restoration of antique clocks and was a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors since 1986.

He was also an avid book collector and specialized in first editions of science fiction and detective fiction among other topics. As a member of the Knox Reading Circle he also enjoyed reading American history. John is survived by his husband of 26 years, James S. Zoller and their two dogs, Abby and Stella, his three sisters, Christine Sakonyi of Hermitage, PA, Susan May and her husband Robert of West Middle, PA and Mary Ann Reynolds and her husband Jeff of Hermitage, PA.

Also, two sisters-in-law, Deborah Reile and her husband Larry of Lake Hills, TX and Susan Granzin and her husband Miles of New Braunfels, TX and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. John’s wishes were to not have a service but for those so inclined, contributions to your local animal shelter and/or library in his honor would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

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