Robert A. Gagne

Portland – Robert A. Gagne, 99, of Portland died Friday, December 10, 2010. He was the husband of the late Doris E. (Valente) Gagne, who died on June 3, 1989.

Robert was born in Westbrook, ME on February 1, 1911 a son of the late Oral W. & Josephine (St. Pierre) Gagne. He was educated in the parochial and public schools of Westbrook. He also was a graduate of safety administration and engineering courses at Northwestern University, University of Denver, New York University and the University of Maine as well as the Aerospace Explosive School at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado and McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas where he studied nuclear safety.

He married Doris on September 3, 1934.

He retired from Pease Air Force Base as the Ground Safety Officer in 1979. In addition, his career included similar positions with Harbor Defenses, New England Shipbuilding Corporation, Continental Copper and Steel, Dow Air Force Base and Topsham Air Force Base. He also served as the Vice President of the Maine Federal Safety Council and as Chairman of the Maine-New Hampshire Federal Safety Council. Throughout his distinguished career he received many achievement awards.

Robert was a former parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Portland and St. Charles Church in Dover, New Hampshire. Most recently he was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church in Portland. He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus.

As a young man, he was a football and baseball player. Throughout his lifetime he enjoyed golf, reading, fishing and the outdoors. In his retirement, he was an active member of the Woodford’s Club and 60-Plus organization.

He is survived by his daughter Diane E. Steele of Higgins Beach, Scarborough and his two granddaughters Jennifer (Steele) Skillings and her husband James and Kimberly (Steele) Sproull and her husband Bill and his great grandson Jamie Sproull all of Scarborough. He also leaves his brother Lucien Gagne (Marie) of Florida, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Rosebelle Gagne, Aurel Gagne (Blanche), Alfred Gagne (Simone), Ludovic Gagne (Doris), Helena Casey (Wilfred), Louis Gagne, Bernadette Leighton (Clifford) and Roland Gagne (Rita).

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1342 Congress Street, Portland with Rev. Jack D’Anjou celebrating.

Burial in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to:

Animal Refuge League

449 Stroudwater Street

Westbrook, ME 04092

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