Born on Sept. 5, 1936, in Lewiston, he was the son of Thomas J. Anthoine Sr. and Margaret T. Anthoine (Mynahan). He grew up in Lewiston and attended St. Patrick’s Parochial School, and graduated in 1954 from Lewiston High School. While in high school, he was class president, and played both football and baseball for the Blue Devils. He played his summer baseball with the Auburn Aces. He attended Boston College. He later joined the Army, stationed at Fort Dix and then at Fort Lee in Richmond, Va.
He was married to the love of his life, Barbara A. Anthoine (Rapose) on Nov. 11, 1957. They recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary together.
In 1959 he returned to Lewiston and joined his father at Thomas J. Anthoine Company where he worked for over 50 years until his retirement. Involvement in the community was important to him. He was one of the founders of the Football League for Youth (FLY) program. He was a member of the St. Patrick’s Church Parish Council and served as its president during his tenure on the council. He served on the Lewiston School Board and was chairman in 1986. He served on the Building Committee for the Catherine Drexel Church in Harpswell. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish. He was a high school football official for several years.
Always game for a challenge, he enjoyed a brief stint as a stock car racer at Oxford Plains Speedway. He was a proud member of the Auburn Coffee Club where friends met once a year to reconnect and discuss local, state and world issues. He loved the family cottage at Orr’s Island and spent many enjoyable and memorable summers there. One of his favorite sayings was “being on the ocean was nature’s valium.” He loved to boat and had several different boats over the years. He was especially fond of many “bird and squirrel friends” as well, and often had a specific name for each of them, and every year, at both his house and his cottage, he seemed to find new animal friends in nature to befriend.
He and Barbara loved to travel together. They spent several winter months in Florida over the years, and traveled the country during a nine-year period in their motorhome. He made new friends at every stop, in every state. They had an incredible and memorable trip to Europe as well.
Some of his greatest enjoyment and proudest times in life was watching and following his grandchildren’s sporting events, whether it be when they were youth players, high school players, or collegiate players. Known to his grandchildren as “Bumper,” he was also called “Bumper” by his many of his grandchildren’s teammates and even some of their coaches along the way. He was well known to have entertained many family and friends at almost any type of gathering with his true gift of jokes and his story telling. His life was full of friendships as he endeared himself to people so easily.
He was an incredible son, husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be missed dearly by all those whose life he touched.
He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara, of 56 years; his five children Thomas III and his wife Janice of Lewiston, Michael and his wife Suzanne of Andover, MA, Mark and his wife Deb of Lewiston, Barbara “Muffin” (Barry) and her husband Matt of Topsfield, MA and Scott and his wife Gabby of Waltham, MA; 12 grandchildren: Thomas, IV (TJ), Meghan, Caitlin, Meredith, Mark Jr., Connor, Katherine, Kellen, Jack, Erin, Patrick, and Brennan; and 1 great-grandchild Thomas V (Tommy); 2 sisters, Maureen Anthoine of Harpswell and Mary Margaret Anthoine Ney of Kennebunk; along with several uncles, aunts, cousins and close friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, and his niece Julia Harrison.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all that cared for him during his many stays and visits at St. Mary’s Hospital, and would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Mahesh Pandey and his team for their extraordinary care and their personal touch.
Visitation will be held at the Albert & Burpee Funeral Home, 253 Pine St., Lewiston, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Services will be Tuesday, 11 a.m., at Holy Family Church in Lewiston. Interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lewiston in the spring.
Donations may be made in his memory to St. Mary’s Health System, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, and mailed to St. Mary’s Development Office, P.O. Box 7291, Lewiston, ME 04243- 7291.
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