Adah Jean Patch Ginn

Adah Jean Patch Ginn, 96, passed away peacefully at her home in Scarborough on October 4, following a period of declining health.

Adah was born September 13, 1930, in Bangor, Maine, the daughter of Clifford and Jean Spruance Patch. She attended Bangor High School, where she was an outstanding student and athlete. She went on to attend Wellesley College, but left before graduating to marry Herb Ginn—the big brother of her best friend, Shirley Ginn, and the man who would remain her best friend and partner for the next 70 years.

Herb had recently returned from serving in the Navy in Japan and was headed to Boston University School of Law. Their first child, Mark, was born while they were living in Boston. Following Herb's graduation from law school, the young family returned to Bangor, where Herb joined the family business, Fox & Ginn.

In 1955, Adah and Herb moved to Cape Elizabeth, where they welcomed two daughters, Jean and Tracey, and built the home and family life that would mean so much to them.

Adah was, in many ways, the quintessential mother of her generation. She was there for the ball games, concerts, dance recitals and countless other milestones of her children's lives. But no one who knew Adah would ever describe her simply as a wife and mother. She was strong-willed, fiercely competitive and decidedly opinionated—and she was never particularly shy about letting you know what she thought. Those qualities stayed with her throughout her 96 years and were a large part of what made Adah, Adah.

Perhaps nowhere was her competitive spirit more evident than at the bridge table. Adah and Herb were nationally ranked duplicate bridge players, competing in tournaments throughout the country and playing several times a week for many years. Bridge brought them competition, friendships and more than a few adventures. After a ski injury once left Adah with her leg in a cast, they simply changed their plans: rather than fly to a bridge tournament in Cleveland, they drove so she could keep her leg elevated along the way. Missing the tournament apparently wasn't an option.

They were equally adventurous travelers. Adah and Herb saw much of the world together, sometimes arriving in a foreign country in the middle of the night, speaking not a word of the local language and armed with little more than a map pulled from the pages of National Geographic. Somehow, they always found their way.

Winter weekends were spent at Sugarloaf, where they skied and reconnected with lifelong Bangor friends and their families. Those friendships, like so many in Adah's life, endured for decades.

Bridge remained part of Adah's life well into her later years. She especially loved bringing her "bridge ladies" to the family's Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport for marathon games. Even in their 80s and 90s, they thought nothing of playing until midnight.

Above all else, Adah's greatest joy was her family. She delighted in following the lives and accomplishments of her eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Their activities, adventures and milestones gave her enormous pleasure and pride.

Adah was predeceased by her beloved husband of 70 years, Herb; her son, Mark; her brother, Clifford; and her sister, Jean.

She is survived by her daughter Jean Ginn Marvin and her husband, Bob, of Scarborough; her daughter Tracey Ginn Guidi of Satellite Beach, Florida; her grandchildren Clifford Ginn, Dr. Jennifer Ginn Foy, Lt. Col. Adam Marvin, Parker Marvin, Tanya Guidi Smith, Stephanie Guidi, Daniel Guidi and Colby Marvin Bracy; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Adah is also survived, in a very special sense, by the extraordinary group of caregivers who became part of her extended family. Their kindness, patience, companionship and devotion made it possible for Adah to remain in the home she loved until she drew her final breath. Her family will never forget what they did for her and will remain forever grateful to them.

Adah's was a long life, richly lived—a life filled with family, friendship, competition, travel, laughter and adventure. She was fortunate to have nearly a lifetime with the man she loved, and generations of family who loved her in return. At the end of her life, she was exactly where she wanted to be: at home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 24, at 11:00 a.m. at Black Point Congregational Church in Scarborough.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those wishing to honor Adah's memory consider a contribution to either the Ginn Family Scholarship at the Maine Community College System at https://www.maineccfoundation.org/ or the Adah Patch Ginn & Clifford Spruance Patch Scholarship at the University of Maine System http://umainefoundation.org/