Staff Writer

John T. Flaherty Sr., a former police chief, town councilor and farmer, died Monday at his home. He was 92, and active in the farm operations until the end of his life, said his son, John T. “Jack” Flaherty Jr.

“I asked him if he had any more orders for me Monday morning,” said Jack Flaherty.

His death, which Jack Flaherty said was due to old age, came less than two weeks after the death of former Fire Chief Eldred Harmon.

Visiting hours for John T. Flaherty will be 4 to 8 p.m. today at Conroy-Tully Crawford Chapel, 1024 Broadway in South Portland.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road.

Flaherty’s Family Farm at the intersection of Payne, Scottow Hill and Beech Ridge roads has been a landmark for almost 70 years. Jack Flaherty said the farm is also the basis of his father’s lessons in hard work.

“To this day, all the family and my kids work two jobs,” Flaherty said.

He recalled how his father managed a grocery store in Portland before joining the Scarborough Police Department in 1953 as a part-time officer.

Flaherty was one of two full-time officers in town for nine years, his son said, and became chief in 1965.

He retired from the department at age 65 in 1983, recalled current chief Robert Moulton.

“You always knew where you stood with him,” said Moulton, who dug potatoes at Flaherty Farms as a teenager before becoming a police officer in 1977.

Before the farm store opened in 1983, daughter-in-law Jill Flaherty said Flaherty and his family delivered as many as 15 tons of potatoes daily to a local processing plant.

The store, built as a covered bridge by Flaherty and his sons, was a special source of pride, she said.

As a chief, John Flaherty was known for “being firm but fair,” recalled Moulton.

Moulton recalled his large hands and “a bit of a temper,” but said the former chief often reached into his pocket to help people in town and did so anonymously.

Jack Flaherty said his father often preferred “not a ticket, but a talking to. Those who got a break knew he was fair with them.”

Jill Flaherty said her father-in-law was always a presence.

“He had bright blue eyes – sparkly and amazing, and the biggest belly laugh,” she said.

Born in Portland on Aug. 9, 1917, John Flaherty moved to Scarborough in 1941. An Army veteran, he served stateside during World War II until 1945, said his son.

Flaherty was married twice and raised eight children. His first wife, the former Alice Handlon, died in November 1959. Flaherty then married the former Doris Nellie Harmon in January 1961. She died last July.

“He was fortunate to have two wonderful wives,” Jill Flaherty said.

Referred to in town as “Chief,” Flaherty was known far beyond Scarborough, Moulton said. He learned how highly peers regarded  Flaherty when he began attending meetings of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, of which Flaherty was a lifetime member.

 “I just think of a strong man,” Jill Flaherty said.

Flaherty is survived by his daughters, Judith Flaherty of Scarborough, Mary-Jo Taylor and her husband, Dale, of Windham, and Susan Blanchard and her husband, Edward, of Scarborough; sons John T. Flaherty Jr. and his wife, Connie, of Scarborough, Bruce Flaherty of Cape Elizabeth, Stephen Flaherty of Bridgeport, Conn., Michael Flaherty and his wife, Nina, of Zephyrhills, Fla., and James Flaherty and his wife, Jill, of Scarborough.

He is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Edith Flaherty of Scarborough; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Flaherty will be buried in St. Hyacinth Cemetery.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219