Ronald A. Vezeau

Ronald A. Vezeau 92 a former long time resident of Bennett Ct. died Wednesday evening at the Newton Center. He was born October 19, 1913 in Somersworth, NH a son of Joseph & Eva (Leclair) Vezeau. Mr. Vezeau attended school in Somersworth and later in Sanford when he moved here at the age of seven. He worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He later worked as a machinist at the former Colonial & Thurston Aircraft Company. He retired in 1979 as a quality control inspector for Aerofab. His stepmother Dolores Belanger raised him after the untimely death of his Mother when he was just a youth.He was a communicant of Holy Family Church. At The Newton Center Mr. Vezeau shared a room with his wife of seventy years, Irene. The staff at the center said that he was quiet, usually smiling and loved a good joke. Although Parkinson's Disease had significantly altered his speech, after fifteen years of caring for him, the staff knew 'Ronald's' twinkling grin was an indicator that he was cooking up a good joke that he would not be able to share. So they instinctively laughed at what he would say if he could.According to family and friends, he had this sense of humor since day one. About 60 years ago, when he was in his early thirties with a wife and two young children, he began having a problem with his leg. Multiple attempts to save the leg unfortunately ended in amputation. Throughout this ordeal he was known for his positive attitude and practical jokes on the nurses. He received his first prosthesis in the winter of 1946 and practiced walking outside day after day until he mastered independent ambulation.The prosthesis vendors were so impressed with his quick and thorough progress they hired him to speak to new amputees. He not only educated them, he inspired them by example. Later on in life, Mr. Vezeau completed several construction projects, including building a chteau style camp in North Conway, NH. He thought nothing of climbing on the roof to make repairs.Mr. Vezeau had overcome disability and challenges that many might not. At 92, despite the availability of an electric wheelchair and the debilitating effects of his disease, he readily participated in his ambulation therapy program, walking up to a hundred feet at a time. Refusing to let parkinson's defeat him, he maintained his signture grin and sense of humor, choosing to inspire everyone by what he did rather than what he said. Survivors include his wife whom he married June 29, 1936 in Sanford, Irene (Couturier) Vezeau and his daughter Mrs. Robert (Nancy) Lincourt both of Sanford, and his son Robert Vezeau and his wife Sheila of Barrington, NH, and his two brothers Richard Vezeau of Rochester, NH & George Vezeau of Somersworth, NH., along with seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 :00 AM Saturday in Holy Family Church. Burial will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery. Arrangements by the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter St., Sanford.In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Activty Fund at the Newton Center, 20 July St., Sanford, ME. Condolences may be expressed by using the "condolence" tab at the left.