He was born Robert Andre Raymond on Dec. 23, 1944, in the “Little Canada” section of Lewiston, Maine, the son of Alexandre and Leda (Tancrel) Raymond.
He was educated in Lewiston schools and the University of Maine system and in 1965 married his high school sweetheart, Anita M. Levesque, also of Lewiston. They then made their home in Augusta for 45 years before moving to Old Orchard Beach where as a family, they had previously spent numerous summer weeks.
While in Augusta, Bob worked for the Maine Department of Transportation for 40 years and was active in many community outreach organizations and efforts. He did have some pacifist views, but still served well and faithfully in the Maine Army National Guard from 1965 to 1971, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He did indeed ‘live…love…laugh’ throughout his life and enjoyed as many gifts of that life as he could, from God’s sunrises and sunsets, observing fireflies, exotic foods, 12-year-old scotch, to cruise ships, escargots and the like. He thought that the sweetest sound in the world was that of young children laughing and made efforts to amuse and engage children wherever he saw them, whether in the pew in front or in a shopping cart at the market, on the street, at The Ballpark or on the beach.
Throughout his life he had a penchant for reaching out to others in a variety of ways, influenced by his own upbringing as well as by the ‘Prayer to St. Francis’ he had learned in his high school Key Club. He quietly practiced that philosophy in his private life for a long time but eventually his efforts became publicly noted and at various times he was recognized by his church, his civic community and also his work union, MSEA, of which he was proudly a lifetime member. He also possessed what may be described as a unique, off-brand sense of humor. At the same time he also was sort of a gentle person.
By his own admission his greatest love was his family and he always felt very blessed to have had a loving wife, three children, four grandchildren and two great sons-in-law along with an extremely good and rewarding life. To him Father’s Day was a time of reflection for all the blessings and happiness his family had provided and a time for him to try to acknowledge appreciation for them.
He is survived by his wife Anita, their children, daughter Paula and her husband Ralph Knight of Sidney and their children Andrew and Amanda; their daughter Katherine and husband Brian Trapani of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and their children Lauren and Allison; their son Daniel Raymond of Windsor; his brother Gerard Raymond and his wife Patricia of Lewiston; his sister Therese Royer and her husband Roger of Harpswell; his sister Madeleine Raymond of Lewiston; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers and too many friends.
While he did love flowers, he had previously suggested that if so desired, memorial donations could be made to local food pantries and soup kitchens.
Visiting Hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 6, 2017, at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, 87 James St., Saco. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, April 7, 2017, at St. Margaret Church in Old Orchard Beach. Burial will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Saco.
To view Bob’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, visit www.cotefuneralhome.com.
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