OLD TOWN – David L. Brissette, 86, died peacefully June 22, 2012, at a Bangor hospital. He was born Dec. 15, 1925, in Old Town, one of eight children to Moses and Mabel (Thompson) Brissette.
He attended Old Town schools and at age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served upon the USS Charger, USS Ticonderoga, and was a plank owner of the USS Shangri-La. As the war was ending he witnessed a kamikaze plane crash into the USS Bunker Hill, which killed his best friend, Maurice Legasse. David was in Tokyo Bay when the war ended to witness the surrender of Japan. Upon returning to Old Town, he married the former Dorothy Collins and together they shared 50 years of marriage prior to her death June 23, 1996. David was employed at Old Town Shoe Co. for 25 years before working for the city of Old Town Parks and Recreation Department for 15 years, retiring in 1987. During his “retirement” he cut more than 100 cord of firewood each year and tended to his more than 1600 famous tomato plants each year. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by a son, David “Peter” Brissette and his wife, Claudette, of South Portland; two daughters, Doreen Boutin and her husband, Bob, of Old Town and Deborah Grant and her husband, James, of Greenbush; seven grandchildren, David Brissette III, Laura Brissette, Claudette Parent, Melissa Avery, Jared Grant, Jill Grant and Jesse Grant; seven great-grandchildren; cousin, Ed Brissette of Otis; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy; four brothers, Francis “Bucky,” Wilfred “Franklin,” James “Sonny” and George “Pete” Brissette; and three sisters, Winona “Nona” Baker, Doreen Faso and Lorraine McGovern. A special thank you to Arthur Hamel and Keith Eddy for all they did for David during the last years of his life.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday at Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Church, 429 Main St., Old Town. Interment with military honors will be conducted at Lawndale Cemetery. After all services, all are invited to the parish center for a light luncheon and continued fellowship. Notes of condolence may be left at
www.birminghamfuneralhome.com.