CARIBOU, Maine — The Cary Medical Center family was saddened to hear about the recent passing of Denis Mazerolle, M.D., longtime obstetrician/gynecologist and icon at the Caribou Hospital. Over a career of more than 20 years the physician brought thousands of children into the world. Mazerolle practiced at the Cary Memorial Hospital and transitioned to the new Cary Medical Center in 1978. Working with Dr. Madjid Yaghmai, director of Cary’s Radiology Department during the 1960s and ’70s, Mazerolle helped to recruit and build a growing medical staff, including The County’s first orthopedic surgeon Dr. Francis Chan, pediatrician Dr. Mead Hayward, ear/nose/throat specialist Dr. Naveed Farooki, internists Dr. Doug Collins and Dr. Leland White and others.
Mazerolle also recruited the first Nurse Midwife to Aroostook County.
Bill Flagg, director of community relations and development at Cary Medical Center, said that Dr. Mazerolle practiced during a very busy time for growing families in Aroostook County.
“I remember well Dr. Mazerolle being at the hospital day and night, delivering newborns and working with our nursing staff on OB. One thing he was always known for was treating every patient the same, with respect and dignity,” Flagg said. “He was one of the reasons why Cary Medical Center established itself as the place women wanted to have their babies.”
Flagg pointed out that Mazerolle practiced during the time that Loring Air Force Base was active and that the number of deliveries reached nearly 400 annually. He noted that the obstetrician at times practiced when he was the only physician delivering babies at the hospital.
“In 1978 Dr. Mazerolle delivered 328 babies, and in 1979, 324, as the solo obstetrician at Cary Medical Center. In spite of being so busy, Dr. Mazerolle always had a steady way about him,” said Flagg. “He never seemed to get to excited or stressed. He worked closely with our nursing staff and helped to build their experience and confidence.”
Gusty Anderson, RN, who began her career at Cary in 1970, said that Dr. Mazerolle was a unique individual and she enjoyed working with him.
“There was never a dull moment with Dr. Mazerolle,” said Anderson. “He was constantly busy but always had room for a joke and he had a unique laugh that seemed to get everyone laughing. He was a very kind and caring person and patients appreciated him very much.”
Dr. Mazerolle joined Cary Memorial Hospital in 1967. Born in Canada, he attended Bathurst University and La Valle in Quebec graduating cum laude at both. He began his practice in Grand Falls and Van Buren before coming to Cary Memorial Hospital.
His Canadian-American heritage provided significant benefits for his work with hundreds of families from the St. John Valley, Flagg said.
