MILLINOCKET – The Rev. Dr. Lance B. Almeida, 53, died unexpectedly Oct. 7, 2005, at a local hospital. He was the Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Millinocket. He was the beloved husband of Alison (Reid) Almeida. Fr. Lance grew up in Tiverton, R.I., the son of Doris (Leach) Almeida and the late Anibel Almeida. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and worked at W.W. Leach Auto Parts in Fall River, Mass. until he felt called to Holy Orders. He graduated from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., and was ordained priest on Oct. 12, 1985. Fr. Lance was Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Fall River, Mass. before moving to Maine. He received a doctor of ministry from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1997. He was elected to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Maine and later served as it’s president. Fr. Lance was a gifted preacher and felt blessed to have served his parishioners for the past 14 years. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. Fr. Lance’s spiritual gifts allowed him to provide healing and teaching at weekly praise and worship services and Bible study. Besides being one of the chaplains at Millinocket Regional Hospital, he was also a member of the hospital’s Public Information Committee, a member of the Drug and Alcohol Team at Stearns High School and a member of the Katahdin Area Coalition. He was a hospice volunteer. He particularly enjoyed being an AARP tax preparer. He was a member of Hillcrest Golf Club and liked playing bridge and tennis. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, his sister, Lisa Viveiros and husband, Bobby, of Swansea, Mass.; his children, Laura Gutenmann and husband, Wayne, of Malone, N.Y., Matthew Reid of Tiverton, R.I., Andrew Reid and wife, Joyce, of Barrington, R.I., and Bartholomew Reid of Long Beach, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Joshua and Sarah Gutenmann and Abigail Reid and several cousins. Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, at R.L. Bouchard Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack St., Millinocket. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Millinocket, with the Retired Rev. Chilton Knudsen, Bishop of Maine, officiating. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Andrew’s Memorial Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 222, Millinocket, ME 04462. Interment will be at a later date. To place condolence online, please go to www.bouchardfh.com
REV. DR. LANCE B. ALMEIDA
