John Bisignano
Although John James Bisignano (1929-2021) was raised in poverty, one thing that always burned brightly for him was his love of art. Born one of 13 children, John settled in Maine with the love of his life, Bettina ‘Betty’ Swirkal, in 1988. The pair’s home in Owls Head was the setting for the unassuming lives they led as artists. In 2014, John’s heartfelt wish to create a foundation for young aspiring artists who do not have the resources for college was realized when he established the John Bisignano and Bettina Swirkal Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarship assistance to deserving MECA&D students from Maine. As an endowed fund through the Maine Community Foundation, this meaningful gift serves as a lasting legacy to John and his wife.