GAGNON, Elbridge J., 81, Houlton, August 6, 2016. Services will be celebrated at the St. Mary’s of the Visitation Church in Houlton at 10 a.m. on Thurs., Aug. 11.
HOULTON — Elbridge J. Gagnon, 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 6, 2016 in the presence of his children at a hospital in Presque Isle. He was born January 28, 1935 in Frenchville, the son of Elbridge and Sylvie (Chassé) Gagnon.
Elbridge graduated from Fort Kent High School and attended the Assumption College in Worcester, MA. He married Claudette Cyr of Fort Kent on July 4, 1959.
After working at J.C. Penney in Fort Kent, Elbridge joined the US Customs Service in 1963. His first brief assignment was in Mars Hill followed by four years in Jackman. In 1967 the family moved to Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec while Elbridge worked at Dorval (Montreal) International Airport. In 1971, Elbridge accepted a position at the Houlton port of entry, where he rose to become Deputy Director. In later years, he took on primary responsibility for the tiny and quiet border crossing at Orient, which allowed him more time to read, write, and build wooden canoes. He retired in 2000, after 37 years of service.
Elbridge played varsity baseball in high school and had a lifelong passion for the sport, following the progress of the Montreal Expos and the Boston Red Sox. His other great outdoor passion was fishing, especially fly fishing for brook trout, which his family enjoyed eating with buckwheat ployes and local fiddleheads.
Elbridge and Claudette played an active role in the catholic parish of Houlton, with Elbridge conducting classes on the faith for adults and Claudette leading the church choir. Both were active in the peace movement; Elbridge led the local chapter of Pax Christi for many years. He wrote numerous letters over the years to politicians, officials, and the press in support of more progressive and peaceful policies around the world.
Elbridge is survived by his son, Joseph and husband Paul Adamczak of Arlington, VA, and his daughter, Marie, of Otisfield; his brother Michael, of Fort Kent; two grandchildren Nicolette Spear of Venice Beach, CA and Aline Spear of New Orleans, LA; and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 40 years, Claudette; two children, Phyllis and Paul, who died at an early age of profound birth defects; and his sisters Janine Pelletier, Claudette (Pat) Picard, and Sally Ann Gagnon.
The Gagnon family extends its deep appreciation to Madigan Estates nursing facility of Houlton and The Aroostook Medical Center of Presque Isle for their warm and professional care near the end of Elbridge’s life and to Elbridge’s devoted friends in Houlton.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s of the Visitation Church in Houlton at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 11. All of Elbridge’s friends and family are welcome to attend a luncheon reception following the funeral in the church basement. Elbridge’s ashes will be interred next to Claudette’s in a private ceremony by his children at Orient cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s of the Visitation Church or to Pax Christi care of St. Mary’s of the Visitation Church, 112 Military Street, Houlton, ME 04730.
