HANOVER, NH — John Campbell Rankin III was born to Alyse Poyntz Oertel and John Campbell Rankin Jr. on June 9th, 1952 in Teaneck, New Jersey. You may have known him as “Cam.”
Cam was a name that was known throughout this town. He was charismatic and thrived on interacting with the people that he came across in his journeys. He enjoyed teaching those he encountered about nature. He knew every tree, flower, plant, and bird that flew by, including their melodious songs. His passion for nature inspired many others to deepen their appreciation of the outdoors.
He grew up in New Jersey, where he played in the snow in winter, and frolicked in the countryside during their summers at Lake Bomoseen in Vermont. He learned how to swim, which he would do almost every day for most of his life, culminating in a swim across the entire Lake Bomoseen in more recent years. His family moved to Huntington Beach, California for his senior year of high school. From there, he proceeded to go to University of California, San Diego, where he met his lovely wife Mary Anne, got married, started his family and his insurance career.
Cam was intelligent, creative, and independent, building his own business from scratch and his dream house for his family. He chose to take his family to the East Coast to grow up in a small town where they could see the change of seasons, experience the cold hard winters, and be in a small community where they knew the neighbors and connected deeply to the community. Cam was a Baseball coach, Cub Scout Leader, Obstacle Course Master, President of the Hanover Lions Club and an avid member of the Hanover Conservancy, advocating for trails and access to the amazing natural world. He was a member of the choir at the United Church of Christ at Dartmouth and even participated in his children’s classes, doing “book talks” with students long after his children had vacated the premises. He wanted to be involved and support the community in which he flourished.
He knew the value of hard work, commitment, doing a job well, staying in shape and led by example in his interactions with the world. He loved to travel and learn. He never stopped reading, asking questions, or taking classes to enhance his connection to the world around him.
Cam was a devoted father to two wonderful children, Lara and Brandon, an amazing husband and traveling partner to his beautiful wife Mary Anne, a loving brother to his siblings Holly, Scott, Doug, and a great friend to many individuals and also his whole town. He brought people together people from different walks of life that never would have met otherwise, and he was forthright and genuine with everyone whom he encountered.
His memorial service will be held on October 26th at 11:00 AM, at the United Church of Christ at Dartmouth in Hanover, and we would love for anyone who knew Cam and was touched by his service and friendship, to join us in celebrating his life. In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate donations to be made to the Hanover Lions Club or The Hanover Conservancy.
To view an online memorial and or send a message of condolence to the family, please visit, www.rand-wilson.com.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.