LEEDS – Raymond P. Chouinard, 76, of 286 Lakeshore Drive, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, with his family and friends by his side, at his residence. Born July 28, 1930, in Lewiston, son of Pierre and Adrienne (Morin) Chouinard. He was educated in Lewiston schools and graduated from St. Dominic Regional High School in 1949. He received his accounting degree from Auburn Maine School of Commerce in 1951. He worked for many local shoe manufacturing facilities in the Lewiston/Auburn area as a cost accountant and/or purchasing agent. He retired from Supreme Slipper Corp. in 1992. Mr. Chouinard was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Winthrop. He served as a lector, folk group director, parish council member, parish custodian for five years and was a member of the church choir for 25 years. He was avidly involved with the Men’s Club and was known as “the cook.” Many people who went to the monthly Men’s Club breakfasts looked forward to indulging in his baked beans and crepes. Much to his family’s dismay, there weren’t many leftovers. Ray was also a member of the Musical Literary Club and served as president for three years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th degree, Wallace Assembly, Council No. 106, Lewiston and the Father McGowin Council No. 7655, 4th degree, Winthrop. He was also an active member of Le Club Calumet, Augusta, where he was president in 1997 and The Cecilia Club, Augusta. In the past, he was a member of the Elks Club, the Eagles, The Jacques Cartier Snowshoe Club, Le Montagnard, The Pastime and the American Musicians Union Local No. 109. Ray was passionate about many different things. He loved fishing, sports, cooking, woodworking, arts and crafts and tinkering with anything that needed fixing. His workshop was known locally as “Ray’s Neighborhood Hardware.” If anyone needed anything, especially if they couldn’t find it at the local hardware store, they could find it in all the tins and coffee cans, labeled accordingly, in his cellar. Above all, his biggest passion was music, particularly the songs and history of the Franco-American heritage that he was so proud of. He sang and performed with the Bob Renaud Band for three years, The Dick Demers Trio for six years, the Fasinations for 12 years and the band that he was best known for for 21 years, the C’est Si Bon Band. He played a large part in starting the Lewiston Franco-American Festival; La Kermesse Festival, Biddeford; La Bastille Festival, Augusta; The Winslow Festival, Winslow; Le Festival du Bois, Berlin, N.H.; and The International Festival, Albany, N.Y. The band performed for five years at the Quebec Winter Carnival, Quebec City, Canada, proudly representing the state of Maine. He visited many local elementary schools, educating the children on the Franco-American heritage. He played them the music, showed them how to play the spoons and indulged them in the art of crepe making. For 50 years, Mr. Chouinard was involved in directing and producing many Broadway musicals, variety shows, minstrels and Soiree Canadiennes. He started the tradition when he worked at Knapp Shoe back in the ’50s and ’60s. After that, he did it for many years with the Knights of Columbus, Lew-iston. From there, he spread to Le Club Calumet, Augusta. Many people have had the pleasure of saying that they met their partner doing one of Ray’s variety shows. This organizational talent and passion of music and entertaining helped many organizations and clubs raise the funds necessary to fulfill a dream. Although he loved all the shows he directed/produced, Christmas shows with the whole family involved, especially the kids, were his favorite. Ray will be best known by the community for his commitment to the Franco-American heritage but to his family and friends, he will be known as the king of lobster and clam bakes. Not an opportunity was missed, especially when an out-of-state relative was stopping in, for him to jump in his car and go buy lobsters and clams. There was always a reason to have lobsters and clams. Nothing meant more to him than to have a good meal, sit around the outdoor fireplace, play games and just enjoy the company of family and friends. He is survived by his wife, the former Therese M. Caron, whom he married June 9, 1951; a son, Richard R. and his wife, Lynn, of Bedford, Texas; a daughter, Ann Brown and her husband, Peter Jr., of Leeds; a sister, Irene Biron of Lewiston; three grandchildren, Joshua Baril, Derek Chouinard and Jennifer Montalvo; two great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, alot of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, plus many, many friends. He was predeceased by his son, Ronald F. Chouinard in 2000. Visitations will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at Fortin/Auburn. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Church. The committal service will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Dominic Regional High School Memorial Fund, 121 Gracelawn Road, Auburn, ME 04210. An online obituary may be viewed at www.mem.com. Tributes may be sent to the family at pandabrown@fairpoint.net. A service of The Fortin Group Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 217 Turner St., Route No. 4, Auburn. www.dignitymemorial.com
RAYMOND P. CHOUINARD
