He was born in Portland on July 22, 1939, the son of Camille and Irene Cabana Labonte.
Mr. Labonte worked as an operating room technician at Maine Medical Center in Portland and the Webber Hospital in Biddeford for seven years. He then began a 32-year teaching career at Biddeford High School. He became the first state of Maine certified athletic trainer for high school in 1974 and served in that capacity until 2008 at Biddeford High School, Thornton Academy and Massebesic High School.
He is survived by: his wife, Jean of 53 years of Biddeford and Venice, Florida; one daughter, Pamela Coburn and her husband James of Waterboro; two sons, Michael D. Labonte and his wife Elizabeth of Cocoa Beach, Florida, Roger Tim Labonte and his wife Sharon of Biddeford; four grandchildren, Michael D. Labonte Jr., Sarah Labonte, Callum Labonte, and Wyatt Labonte; one uncle, Robert Labonte of St. Augustin-de-Des Maures, PQ, Canada; and several cousins.
Visiting hours will be 5- 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at Hope Memorial Chapel 480 Elm St., Biddeford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 at St. Joseph Church in Biddeford. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Biddeford at a later time. A celebration of Doc’s life will be held in the spring at the family farm. Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel. Memorial donations in Richard “Doc” Labonte’s name may be made to the Richard D. Labonte Scholarship Fund at Biddeford High School and or Massebesic High School. To share condolences online, please visit www.HopeMemorial.com.
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