Obituary: John “Jack” Tyler Kidder III

John “Jack” Tyler Kidder III, Long‑Serving Insurance Adjuster and Community Pillar, Dies at 82

SACO, Maine—John “Jack” Tyler Kidder III, a respected independent insurance adjuster and beloved local figure, died peacefully at Maine Medical Center on October 3, 2026, after a brief illness. The 82‑year‑old was surrounded by family as the sun set over the city, a fitting backdrop for a life lived in service to others.

Kidder was born on March 6, 1944, in Rumford to Dorothy and John Kidder Jr. He grew up in Rangeley, where he attended Fryeburg Academy. Though an early fear of heights kept him from soaring, he still joined the school ski team and later became one of the first four people to ski Saddleback Mountain before it opened in the late 1950s. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Husson College in 1966.

After college, Kidder entered the insurance field. He began working as an independent adjuster with GAB in 1967, but when the firm asked him to relocate to New Jersey, he chose to stay in Maine to raise a family. In 1974, he founded Colonial Adjustment, Inc. from the basement of his Colonial Acres home in Westbrook. Over the next four decades, he built a reputation for integrity, building trustworthy relationships and serving the broader industry as president of the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters from 2009 to 2010. Kidder retired in 2014, passing the company’s leadership to his son Scott, who succeeded him as president.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Kidder was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and skiing, often taking his children, grandchildren, and friends to Rangeley’s lakes and trails. “He kept that connection to the woods, the water, and the slopes alive throughout his life, introducing his children, grandchildren, and many friends to the activities he loved in the area he so deeply treasured,” a family friend recounted.

Kidder met the love of his life, Barbara, in 1994. The couple married on March 1, 1997, and together built a life rich in adventure and comfort. They spent yearly vacations in Aruba, weekend retreats at a camp in Rangeley, and later enjoyed the quieter rhythm of life in their Saco home, surrounded by their dogs Annie and Teddy. Television sports—Red Sox, Bruins, or Patriots games—often filled the living room.

His family remains his proudest legacy. Survived by his wife Barbara; children Steven (with Joyce Gauthier), Scott (Erica), and Amy (Will); and grandchildren Corey, Carly, Jack, Sam, Cora, and Megan. He was predeceased by his parents, Dorothy and John Jr.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, October 24, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant, 25 Long Wharf, Portland—one of Kidder’s favorite spots. The family has requested a private graveside service in Rangeley, and funeral arrangements are being handled by Dennett, Craig and Pate Funeral Home in Saco.

In lieu of flowers, family members and friends are encouraged to honor Kidder’s memory by making a donation to Fryeburg Academy, his high school alma mater, in his name. Donations can be directed to:

Fryeburg Academy
745 Main Street
Fryeburg, ME 04037

Kidder was remembered as a man of his word, generous, and loyal. “He was kind, generous, and loyal. He was a man of his word and as honest as the day was long,” one friend said, encapsulating the character of a man whose life was defined by integrity and warmth.

The Maine community will feel the loss of a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, as well as a stalwart leader in the insurance industry. His legacy of professionalism, compassion, and deep ties to the local landscape will endure in the memories of those who knew him.