Robert E. Lessard

Robert E. Lessard, 76, of Springvale, died on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at Goodall Hospital in Sanford.Robert was born in Sanford on August 10, 1931 to Adrien and Lea Gagnon Lessard. He was a 1951 graduate of St. Ignatius High School where he excelled in basketball and as a baseball pitcher. He continued pitching in the Easter Illinois league while enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After completing his enlistment, Robert went to work as a machine operator at Pioneer Plastics in Sanford. He went on to work for 15 years in Quality Assurance at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard before retiring in 1983.Mr. Lessard enjoyed traveling to different places. He especially liked taking trips to Florida and Foxwoods. He liked hunting, fishing, going to horse races and was a big sports fan. He spent a lot of time coaching in various local baseball leagues and enjoyed doing carpentry work. He was a former member of the Elks Lodge and had been a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus. Robert was a very devoted family man. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, putting them first in everything he did. He will be remembered as a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.Robert was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Rose Sheltra.Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Pauline Pelletier Lessard of Springvale; three sons, Mark Lessard of Lebanon, Ronald Lessard and his wife Harriet of Berwick and James Lessard and his wife Kelli of Springvale; a daughter, Debra Dyer and her husband, Alan of Waterboro; a brother, Albert Lessard of Sanford; nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Notre Dame Church in Springvale. Burial will be at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Sanford. Arrangements are through Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home in Springvale.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.To leave a message of condolence for the family, please click the condolences tab to the left.