AUBURN — Jim “Jimbo” Marston, the beloved longtime magazine publisher and fundraising champion for Make-A-Wish Maine, died Tuesday night after several battles with cancer.
Jim Marston, publisher/CEO of Uncle Andy’s Digest and LA Metro Magazine, seen pictured in March 2022, died Tuesday night, according to a statement from the publications. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal file
Marston’s two publications, LA Metro Magazine and the long-running Uncle Andy’s Digest, posted statements on his passing Wednesday morning, calling him a “very humble, yet larger-than-life personality” who “understood the value of giving back.”
“We are heartbroken to announce that our CEO/publisher, Jim Marston, passed away last night after battling his third bout of cancer,” the statement said. “He fiercely fought this battle right up until the end, and his will to continue fighting inspired all of us.”
An annual summer block party spearheaded by Marston has raised some $500,000 for Make-A-Wish Maine over the years, granting 64 wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Marston told the Sun Journal in March that in 2015, as the 20th anniversary of Uncle Andy’s Digest neared, he wanted to throw a party and partner with a charity to make it more meaningful. At the time, Marston was already a survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and he ended up hearing the story of a Make-A-Wish family with a child survivor of the same cancer.
It sparked an annual event that has since “taken on a life of its own,” Marston said this year.
The statement Wednesday said the staff at both publications “strongly believes in Jim’s mission and we are all committed to keeping this magazine, Uncle Andy’s Digest, and the Summer Block Party thriving. This community needs Jimbo’s work to continue, and we are going to do just that.”
The eighth edition will be Aug. 13 outside Mac’s Grill in Auburn.
“Jim lived locally, worked locally, shopped locally, and golfed (way too damn much) locally,” the statement said. “Jim understood the value of giving back and had a way of making the people around him want to do the same.”
Jim Marston Uncle Andy’s Digest/Nicole Rand
At this year’s Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce awards on May 25, Marston was named the Ray Geiger Chamber Champion, but was not on hand to receive the award.
“He is so honored,” Tyla Davis, editor-in-chief of LA Metro Magazine, said during the event. “And he’s so bummed that he can’t be here. This award is a huge deal for him. He works really hard promoting all things L-A and beyond. This award means a lot.”
The announcements garnered a lot of attention on social media, including comments from local officials, business owners and those who had known him. Many said Marston was a positive force for Lewiston and Auburn.
Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque said, “My heart goes out to Jim and his family. A great man taken too early. Thankfully for all of us his impact was huge and positive. May your memory be eternal Jimbo. … I know your legacy will continue to inspire many.”
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said, “One simply has to flip through the pages of the Digest to know that Jimbo loved this community. We will miss him very much.”
A comment from Roopers Beverage and Redemption said Marston was “an inspiration to the Twin Cities. Jimbo will be greatly missed by so many.”
A statement from Community Credit Union said “we will all miss him and continue to support his work in our communities! Thank you Jimbo for leaving this legacy locally, we’ll do our best to keep it strong in your memory.”
Other comments came from local residents like Alicia Dube LaRoche, who said, “He was such an amazing person and he made everyone feel important. It didn’t matter if you knew him for five minutes or five years. You’ll be missed but more importantly you’ll be remembered by all who got to know you.”
Marston, an Auburn native and 1983 graduate of Edward Little High School, bought Uncle Andy’s Digest in 2001. The humor-based publication was founded in 1996, and is distributed to nearly 20 municipalities in Androscoggin, Oxford, Sagadahoc and Cumberland counties.
In 2015, Marston launched LA Metro Magazine, a quarterly lifestyle magazine focused on Androscoggin County.
He was diagnosed with a cancer of the head and neck two years ago, and began a rigorous treatment schedule. Not long after, he was told it had spread to one of his lungs.
“We challenge everyone in the upcoming days and weeks to channel their inner Jimbo,” the statement from the publications said. “Learn about someone’s business, go play outside, give back to a nonprofit. Jim’s legacy will be an important one for generations to come. And we will all be better because of it.”
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