Roger J. Laprise

After facing small cell lung cancer with his usual courage, determination and humor for more than two years, Roger died peacefully at Gosnell Hospice House on March 31, 2014.Roger was born Dec. 8, 1945, in Sanford to Edgar and Monique (Jacques) Laprise. He attended parochial schools and was a stellar baseball and basketball player at Saint Ignatius High School. Roger signed a contract with the Pittsburg Pirates on his graduation night in 1964. He enjoyed three seasons with the Salem Rebels in Salem, VA and also trained in Daytona, FL. He was both honored and humbled to be inducted in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Roger remained involved in the sports he loved through coaching. This involvement included Little League, Babe Ruth, SJHS baseball, St. Thomas girls' basketball, and SSYAA youth basketball. Roger always enjoyed getting to know the players he coached. He had an impact on them on the field and off. Roger instilled in them a sense of pride in their team and in themselves. He showed them by example what good sportsmanship is all about. Roger had an outstanding 30 year career with the Sanford Police Department, retiring in 2001 as Senior Staff Sergeant. He was considered a firm but fair man and was highly respected by his peers and the public he served. Roger approached law enforcement as he did all his ventures- with pride, with honor and with humor. He was nonjudgmental and touched many lives during his distinguished career. Roger and his wife Cynthia enjoyed 49 years together. They raised three sons they loved dearly. Roger's most enjoyable and memorable moments involved his boys- whether playing cribbage, fishing, hunting or just laughing together as they recited entire dialogues of their favorite shows. He was always extremely proud of his sons, from enjoying their childhood antics to admiring the caring men they each became. His two lovely daughters-in-law and four delightful grandchildren filled his heart with pride and joy, completing a family he adored. Roger is survived by his wife Cynthia (Levesque) Laprise, his sons, Roger David Laprise and his wife Tina, Daniel Laprise, Robert Laprise and his wife Laura, his precious grandchildren Joshua, Zachary, Wyatt and Ridley Monique Laprise. Also surviving are his sister Lucille Nobert and her husband Ronald, sister-in-law Linda Bernier and nieces, nephews and cousins he loved deeply.He was a communicant of the Notre Dame Church of St. Therse de Lisieux Parish. He was a lifetime member of the Springvale Fish and Game Club and the Association of Professional Ball Players of America.Roger was loving and loved. He had a great smile and hearty and memorable laugh. He enjoyed simple pleasures. He was a gentle soul and a good man. He will be sadly missed. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday from 4 to 8 PM at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11:00 AM at the Notre Dame Church of St. Therse de Lisieux Parish, 10 Payne Street, Springvale. Burial will be later in the spring at Notre Dame Cemetery.His family wishes to thank the caring staffs of both the Maine Center for Cancer Medicine and the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House for the kindnesses shown to Roger in this journey. He came to love them and consider them his friends. They laughed with him and they shed tears with him. We will be forever grateful for their gentle and compassionate care.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to please consider the Maine Center for Cancer Medicine, 27 Industrial Avenue, Sanford, ME 04073 or the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Road, Scarborough, ME 04074.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. Condolences can be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com.