Freeman J. Dulac

Freeman was born in Fairfield, ME on January 30, 1934. He attended local grade schools and graduated from Deering High School in 1952 where he was a standout member of the basketball and baseball teams. He then enlisted in the armed services in 1954 where he served overseas for two years interpreting Morse code in Kyoto, Japan during the Korean War. Upon returning home, he met and married Josephine Mangino. Together they had three children.

Freeman worked as a Portland firefighter for 10 years before an on-the-job injury forced him to change career paths. He graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in education in 1971, and worked at Lyseth Elementary School where he taught fifth grade for over 20 years until his retirement. His lasting impact was felt even after students left his classroom; Freeman won an award from Portland High School senior students honoring “the teacher that impacted your life the most” three years in a row. They eventually did away with the award; one can only guess why.

Besides his family, Freeman had a passion for athletics. He was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 and was an active member of the Riverside Golf Association, where he played endless rounds of golf and scored two holes in one. He was a spirited spectator as well, watching his children and grandchildren play sports of all kinds. He also enjoyed cooking for his wife and family, but not as much as they enjoyed eating what he prepared.

Freeman was a lifetime member of the Italian Heritage Center, a communicant of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, the Maine Education Association, and the National Education Association, and spent many afternoons at Scarborough Downs placing bets on horse races.

Freeman was predeceased by his parents Raymond and Annie (Perrault) Dulac; brothers Raymond and George; and a sister Jeanne Grassi.

He leaves his wife of 55 years, Josephine (Mangino) Dulac of Portland; a brother Richard and his wife Mary of South Portland; a sister Joyce White and her husband Randall of Scarborough; two daughters Annie-Jo Ouimet and her husband Leon and Jeanne Place and her husband Chuck; one son Greg and his wife Tracey, all of Portland; seven grandchildren, Leanne, Nicole, Marc, Matthew, Zachary, Jamie and Kelsey, and many nieces, nephews and close friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Friday May 16, 2014 from 3 to 7PM at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday May 17, 2014 at 9AM at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, 72 Federal St. Interment will follow in the family lot at New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.

The Dulac family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at InterMed for their years of care, and to the Hospice of Southern Maine for their support and guidance during this time.

If so desired, contributions may be made in Freeman’s memory to the Portland Matthew 25 Emergency Assistant Fund, C/O St. Peter’s Parish, 307 Congress St, Portland, Me. 04101.

For more information and to leave a tribute in Freeman’s memory please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.