Henry Roland Bellavance

Scarborough- Henry Roland Bellavance, 90, of Asselyn Drive, passed away on January 1, 2016 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. He was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, and was the son of Albert and Emelda (Desbien) Bellavance. Henry was a twin and they were the oldest of seven children (5 boys, 2 girls). He was educated in Parochial schools. In 1953, he married Elizabeth Grady of Edinburgh, Scotland, in Hudson, N.H. He was enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (8 stars), Korean President Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Silver Star from State of Maine for his service. He was an electrician while in the Navy. He retired after 22½ years in the Navy and became a master electrician at Burnham & Morrill Baked Bean Company and operated his own business, H. R. Bellavance & Son Electrical Service. His interests included golf, fishing, travel, taking family movies, and hanging out with fellow veterans.

He was active in the community and was involved with the Boy Scouts, Little League, Scarborough Veteran’s Home, Barbara Bush Foundation, Wreaths Across America, and was a dedicated member of the Scarborough Libby Mitchell American Legion, Post 76.

Henry was a 3 war veteran (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam), his WWII oral history is highlighted in the book, Carrier Down: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Princeton, (CVL 23) in the Battle of Leyte Gulf; Oral history written in the Tiger Rag (Publication of the U.S.S. Princeton Association); Two time commander of the Libby Mitchell American Legion Post 76; Served as Grand Marshall for both Memorial Day and Veteran Day Parades in Scarborough, and served as a Christening Guest of Honor for the commissioning of the U.S.S. Spruance DDG-111 in June 2010.

Henry will be remembered by family and friends as patriotic, loyal, humble…who never saw himself as the hero others considered him to be. Henry was proud of his family, his service to his country, and was generous in many ways.

Quote: Henry never lost his tenacious character or his “Can do attitude”…Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Markab (1966).

He was pre-deceased by his wife, Elizabeth, in 2009, and an infant son, Michael, in 1956.

Henry is survived by his 5 children: Shawn (Bellavance) Gilbert, and her husband, Dennis; James Bellavance and his wife, Robin; Zachary Bellavance, Michelle Bellavance, Richard Bellavance and his wife Tamera; 7 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to a time of visitation from 4-7 pm on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Rd. Scarborough.

Burial will be held at later date at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Henry’s online guest book.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project @ woundedwarriorproject.org