SPRINGVALE – Gerard Alexander Rivard, 98, of Springvale, passed away peacefully on Nov. 5, 2022. Jerry was born in Sanford on Aug. 10, 1924, to Henry and Laura (Couturier) Rivard. 

From the age of 2, Jerry spent his youth on the family’s dairy farm in Springvale, milking cows and delivering milk to local residences. In 1942, at the age of 17, he joined the United States Navy to serve his country during World War II. He received gunnery training and was part of the 15-plane Victory Patrol Bomber squadron, stationed in the South China Sea, near the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.

After the war, Jerry returned to Sanford, where he met and fell in love with Theresa. They married in 1948, and as their family grew, Jerry and Theresa returned to the farm in Springvale, forming a partnership with his brother, Urban, raising chickens. Eventually, Jerry purchased the farm from his parents in 1951 and took over operation of the chicken business when his brother went to work in the Dominican Republic.

In the 1970s, Jerry transitioned his chicken farming business into a pick-your-own strawberry operation. This was successful for many years, and in the 1980s he expanded the strawberry operation to include highbush blueberries. By the 1990s the strawberries were phased out and raspberries were added to the pick-your-own business. Today the farm is well known in Southern Maine for berry picking. Visitors often marveled at how the farm was well-maintained, as well as the consistent quality of the berries. Jerry was often found talking with customers, always willing to explain and share his successes and failures with growing pick-your-own fruit. He has been recognized by the University of Maine system for his agricultural knowledge related to growing small fruit. Throughout the years Jerry spoke at farming presentations and participated in university research projects investigating the effects of invasive pests. It was always Jerry’s dream to preserve the farm’s function for future generations and beyond. Shortly before his passing, Rivard Farm was entered into an agricultural easement with Maine Farmland Trust, which will conserve the farming practices of the land he treasured in perpetuity.

When Jerry was not busy with farming and family activities, he enjoyed reading, tinkering on projects, playing guitar and banjo, and hiking. Jerry and Theresa hiked many trails in the White Mountains with their children and his brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Rita. Jerry continued to hike into his 80s, completing a hike of Mt. Washington at the age of 80. He found great joy spending time in nature.

Jerry had a common saying about retirement “as soon as you stop working, you die.” Jerry fully adopted his own philosophy. He never did retire, working to maintain the farm right up until the very end of his life, when the Lord called upon him to come explore the realm of the heavens.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Theresa (Larochelle) Rivard; his sisters Theresa Ouelette, Mary Jane Brochu, Marianne Theriault, and Marguerite LaChance, his brother, Ronald Rivard; his children Irene Martin, Annette Austin, Arline Hartley, Roland Rivard, Diane Stuart and Linda Rivard; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren, all who will miss his joy, humor and hugs.

He was predeceased by his parents Henry and Laura; his brothers Donald Rivard, Henry Paul Rivard, Urban Rivard, Louis Rivard, and Richard Rivard, his sisters Mary Laitres and Elizabeth “Betty” Rooney; and his daughters Doris Wood and Susan Rivard.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at St. Ignatius Parish Hall in Sanford on Dec. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Donations in Mr. Rivard’s name can be made to the

Maine Farmland Trust

in Belfast, or

Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.