Obituary: Donald Joseph King

Maine Journalist Donald King, 98, Dies in Portland

Portland, June 13, 2026 — Donald Joseph King, a lifelong contributor to Maine’s press and a veteran of the Korean conflict, died peacefully at the Cedars in Portland on June 13, 2026. King had been a patient there since 2020, where he received care from both the facility’s staff and the hospice team at Compassus.

King was born January 3, 1928, in Bangor, Maine, to Joseph Waldo and Mary Ahearn King. He graduated as valedictorian of John Bapst High School in 1946 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with honors from the University of Maine in 1950. His academic excellence earned him membership in the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. After his undergraduate studies, King began his career as a reporter for the Piscataquis Observer in Dover‑Foxcroft. In October 1950 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years stateside during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to the University of Maine, using the GI Bill to pursue a Master of Arts in History. King completed his thesis just in time to avoid having to repay a portion of his GI‑Bill grant, a feat he recalled with a wry smile in later interviews.

While completing graduate school, King worked on the state desk of the Bangor Daily News until 1957. He then joined the Portland Press Herald, handling the state and news desks, before moving to the copy desk of the Evening Express. In addition, he served as book‑review editor for the Maine Sunday Telegram for several years. When the Evening Express closed in 1991, King chose early retirement.

After retiring, King remained active in Maine’s civic and intellectual communities. He volunteered for the World Affairs Council of Maine and the Maine Historical Society, and later became a prominent member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Southern Maine, where he edited the OLLI newsletter. He also maintained ties to his alma mater, visiting Cambridge University, the University of Durham and the University of Kent at Canterbury for brief courses, and traveling widely to places such as Paris, Berlin, Sicily, and Beijing. In the United States, he enjoyed trips to Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.

King belonged to the Baxter Society and the Torch Club of Maine, both of which reflected his lifelong commitment to public service and intellectual engagement.

He is survived by a niece, Nancy DeSotto, and her husband John, who reside in Epping, New Hampshire; by two nephews, Lt. Col. (ret) James Harvey of Yorktown, Virginia, and Thomas Harvey and his wife Lisa of Arcade, New York; and by a large extended family of grand and great‑grandnieces and nephews. He was pre‑deceased by his brother Francis, sister M. Angela Harvey, and brother‑in‑law Richard Harvey.

King’s family expressed gratitude for the care he received at the Cedars and at Compassus Hospice. In keeping with King’s wishes, no public memorial service will be held. A private burial in Bangor is scheduled for a later date. A tribute page has been set up at http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com, where friends and colleagues can sign his online guestbook and share memories.

Donald King’s career spanned more than half a century of journalism and public service, leaving an indelible mark on Maine’s media landscape and civic life.