He graduated Deering High School, Portland, ME, class of 1968. In high school, Mike was awarded a State Championship honors in Track and Field. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the height of the Vietnam conflict and served with distinction a combined 20 years on both active duty and in the reserves. His assignments included being stationed aboard the USS Ingraham in the Mediterranean and later on land at Newport, RI; Norfolk, VA; Albany, NY and Portland, ME, where he served as a Navy recruiter. After years of service at Brunswick’s Naval Air Station, Fleet and Family Service Center, Mike retired in 2007.
His time at the Fleet and Family Service Center brought him great personal rewards, because his job involved counseling the exiting men and women of the military as well as advocating for them regarding their educational and health benefits. Wherever Mike went he made friends easily, gave of himself generously, and took great pride in his work, his family and his Maine roots.
After retirement, Mike divided his residences between Brunswick, ME and Zephyrhills, FL. His favorite pastimes included fishing, enjoying lobster dinners with friends, as well as following his favorite teams, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
He is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Jansen of S. Dartmouth, MA, many first cousins, including, Victor Gaudreau of Lewiston, ME, Richard (Dick) Gaudreau of Shapleigh, ME, Richard Bernier of Dade City, FL, as well as a nephew (by marriage) Trison Paradis of Ladson, SC. He is missed by his good friends including: Mary Deschenes of Zephyrhills, FL and the Huntington family of Bath/Brunswick, ME.
Graveside burial will be held at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lewiston, ME, on Monday, Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.
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