Bertrand L. Gagnon

Bertrand L. Gagnon, 89, of Lewiston, passed away on March 25 after a challenging battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He is now reunited with the love of his life, Doris of 66 years, who predeceased him by two months.

Bert was born on October 19, 1933 to Adelard and Antoinnette Cote Gagnon in Lewiston. After graduation from St. Dominic High School in 1951, Bert enlisted in the Air Force.

After completing his Military Service, Bert joined his father in the family painting business. Realizing there was not enough work to keep the crew employed Bert elected to find another career so the crew could keep their jobs. He started with Boston Mutual, then onto Allstate before landing a job with Casavant Insurance Agency starting as a salesman eventually becoming partner, then owner. He liked the idea of being an independent agent to better represent his customers.

In 1955, Bert met Doris Provencher at a local dance club and the rest is history. Bert and Doris married Labor Day weekend 1956 and went on to have eight children: Michelle, Renee, Guy, Denise, Marc, Diane, Lyse and Nicole. After the birth of their third, they purchased their first home on Rachel Blvd where they raised their brood and made many lasting memories.

Bert was dedicated to his community and had served in several capacities, including 10 years as President of the St. Dominic High School Board, past President of the Maine Independent Agents Association, past President of Rotary Club as well as serving on the Lewiston Board of Education. Bert was an advocate of the importance of Catholic education, working hard to assure all of his children had the opportunity to receive one. In addition, he was active in securing sponsors to help pay for other students to attend St. Dominic’s High School.

Bert was a hard-working family man and present as a father. He was not only a gentleman, but a gentle man. He may not have had the time to attend all the activities of his children, but he was always supportive in their lives, offering advice or leaving encouraging notes in their school notebooks. Sometimes it was as simple as loading up the station wagon and taking everyone for an ice cream and a ride; sometimes that ride may have included the hill behind a certain Church in his VW bus… The neighbors remember him when he first took up jogging for exercise. He didn’t have sneakers so he jogged in his wingtip shoes, which could be heard all around the block, very early in the morning!

As much as Doris loved the ocean, Bert loved going to camp up north, first on Parlin Pond and then a small camp in Caratunk he shared with a friend. He was not much of an outdoorsman, but loved the peacefulness. In later years Parlin Pond Lodges became a family refuge for an annual get-together.

When Bert retired in 1990, he and Doris spent some time traveling around until they finally purchased a winter home in Sun City, AZ. They spent the next 17 winters there, playing golf, participating in the many social events of the community and making many close friends during this time.

Bert was predeceased by his parents, his wife, siblings Lauriette Gagnon and Don Gagnon, and brother-in-law Robert Provencher and his wife Mary. He is survived by his children and their spouses, his much-loved grandchildren, great granddaughter, and sisters Lorraine St. Hilaire and Mona Blais (Fern) and their families, as well as the children of his brother-in-law, who also grew up on Rachel Blvd.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Dominic Academy Scholarship Fund, Auburn, in his memory. There will be a funeral mass at Prince of Peace Parish at Holy Family Church on Monday April 24 at 1100 am.

Gifts may be made online (stdomsmaine.org/give), or checks mailed to (include his name and ‘Scholarship Fund’) in the note section of your check):

In Memoriam Fund

Saint Dominic Academy

121 Gracelawn Road

Auburn, ME 04210