He was born Oct. 8, 1956 in Biddeford, a son of Robert C. and Jeanne (Demeule) Gelinas. He was educated locally, graduating from Biddeford High School in the Class of 1974.
On May 7, 1977, he married Linda Perry in St. Andre’s Church.
After working a few years as an electrician, he joined the Biddeford Fire Department in 1977 retiring as Captain in 2002. Since then he owned and operated Gelinas Electric. In 2014, as his illness became more acute he sold the business to James Gallant, his “adopted son.”
After retirement, Roger served on the Biddeford Fire Commission from 2011-2016.
As a younger man, he coached Pee Wee football for 11 years. He coached girls’ basketball in Biddeford from 1994-2004, and in Old Orchard Beach from 2004 until 2008.
Roger also volunteered his expertise as Assistant Fire Inspector until 2016. He was first vice president of La Kermesse from 1989-1992 and vice president 1992-1994.
Roger enjoyed and shared his love of all New England sports teams with his daughter Stacey. They also coached high school basketball, side-by-side for several years.
He most valued his time with family and friends; he had a very special bond with his beloved grandchildren, Payton and Cameron. He was loved, and will be missed by so many.
He was predeceased by his father Robert in August 1969 and his sister, Paulette Gelinas in April 1978.
Surviving are Linda, his wife of 40 years; his daughter Stacey Russo and her husband Justin; his mother; grandchildren Payton and Cameron Russo, all of Biddeford; his sister, Gisele Sullivan, and her husband Kevin of Saco; brothers, Donald Gelinas and his wife Shelly of Biddeford and Roland Gelinas and his wife Joy of Springfield, Massachusetts; sisters-in-law, Vickie Robitaille and her husband Roger of Biddeford, Janice Labbe (widow of Guy) of Lyman, Caroline Sullivan and her husband Sean of Topsham and Carmen Perry and her significant other Doug Glenn of New York; brothers-in-law, Bill Perry and his wife Vicki of Biddeford, Steven Perry and his wife Andrea of Biddeford and Carl Perry and his wife Tami of Waterboro; and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting Hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 and Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford.
To share condolences online, please visit www.HopeMemorial.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Roger’s memory may be made to: Biddeford Fire Department Memorial Fund, 152 Alfred Street, Biddeford, 04005 or Maine Leukemia and Lymphoma Society , c/o Maine Cancer Foundation, 170 US Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105.
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