LEWISTON: Dr. Lionel Roland Tardif, 90, husband of the late Claire Y. Tardif, died on the early morning of Easter Sunday April 21, 2019 after dealing with dementia for several years, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Manchester, NH, son of the late Antoinette and Donat Tardif, on February 2, 1929. As a child he spent several summers in Canada where he would begin to nurture a lifelong strong work ethic and appreciation of education and of the outdoors.
He obtained his Pre-Medical education at Le Seminaire St. Joseph in Three Rivers, Quebec Canada and received his Medical Degree at Laval University School of Medicine in Quebec City. He then spent three years specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology and an extra six months in Oncology at the Wesson Maternity Hospital in Springfield, MA.
He married Claire on June 4, 1955 and following completion of his OB/GYN medical training, they moved to Lewiston in 1964 and he worked at St Mary's Regional Medical Center, where he delivered more than 7,000 babies over the course of 35 years, before retiring from medicine in December, 1999. Lionel was a self-made man with a very unassuming, humble and personable nature. Following his retirement, he could be found having an early morning social with friends at Dunkin' Donuts or at Tim Horton's solving the world's problems. He certainly enjoyed his fair share of Moxie as well as Claire's famous iced coffees.
Dr. Tardif was known for his compassion, gentle bedside manner and a sense of humor. He is legendary in Lewiston and Auburn for his exemplary standard of care. He was a great role model for his family, patients, and friends.
He was very passionate about spending quality time with his family. He also had many interests and demonstrated remarkable skills including wood working and many of his projects were shared with those he loved. Lionel was recently predeceased by his dear loving wife Claire of 63 years on Sunday April 7, 2019.
Lionel is survived by his four children, Dr. Robert Tardif and his wife Claire of Lewiston, Sylvia Cormier and her husband Christopher of Yarmouth, Louise Goulet and her husband Marc of Lewiston,
Paul Tardif, Esq. and his wife Martha of Yarmouth Port, MA, his sisters Fern Marcotte and Doris Hemond and her husband Gerald all of Manchester, NH, and Lucille Gendron and her husband Richard of Kingsport, TN, his brother-in-law Reverend Robert Marchand of Moody, his grandchildren, Sara and her husband Brian Wilson, Christine and her husband Andrew Savage,
Carolyn and her husband Chris Jillette, Ted Gill and his fiancee Carolyn Young, Peter Gill, Samuel and his wife Rachel Goulet, Sophia Goulet, Andrew Tardif, Adrienne Tardif and Amelia Tardif.
He also leaves behind many special nieces, nephews and friends in Maine and New Hampshire as well as, with gratefulness, Paula and John Stass.
He was also predeceased by his firstborn twin boys in 1957.
The Tardif family wishes to thank Dr. Richard Kappelmann, the staff at St Mary's Regional Medical Center, and 3-East D'Youville Pavillion for the wonderful service and care they provided Lionel during his final years.
Condolences and fond memories of Lionel may be shared with his family at www.thefortingroupauburn.com
A Mass of Christian Burial for both Lionel Tardif and for Claire Tardif will be celebrated at St. Marie's Church in Manchester, NH on Friday June 14, 2019 at 10 AM followed by interment with committal prayers at Mount Calvary Cemetery also in Manchester, NH.
