Robert J. Rodrigue

Robert J. "Bob" Rodrigue, 85, of Waterville, passed away Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Bob was born at home at 2 Gray St., Waterville on December 27, 1927, the son of Joseph and Bertha Madore Rodrigue. He was educated in local schools and was well known as a hockey goalie for Notre Dame and St. Joseph School teams. Bob was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the Philippines shortly after World War II. He was a member of the Maine Army National Guard. Bob was employed by Capital Distributors as a truck driver for several years and also as a heavy equipment mechanic for the State of Maine. In 1965, he joined the Waterville Fire Department as a driver for Engine Company 3 on Water Street, a position he held until his retirement in 1989. Bob was married 58 years to M. Stella Thibodeau until her passing in April 2012. He was a communicate of Notre Dame Parish in Waterville his whole life. He was active in the parish as a member and past President of the League of Sacred Heart as well as serving on the credit committee of Notre Dame Federal Credit Union. Bob also served on the building committee for the new church on Silver St. in the mid 1960's. He was also active with the Boy Scout Troop 430 and also a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bob is survived by three sons and their wives, Paul and Annie of Waterville, Leo and Jan of Knoxville, Tenn. and Jimmy and Suzan of Waterville; grandchildren, Heather Gauthier and husband Mark of Fairfield, Beverly Rodrigue of Boston, MA. , Pamela Korpinen and husband Kris of Daytona Beach, FL, Christopher Rodrigue of Boston, MA, Amy Rodrigue of Denver, CO, JR Bember and wife Kim of Texas City, TX, Lisa Bember of Austin, TX, Mallory Foxwell of Knoxville, TX and a great grandson, Knox Robert Korpinen. Bob is also survived by his brother and sister -in- law, Al and Gerry Brochu of Winslow, sisters, Jackie Vigue of Waterville, Gabriel Marquis of Brunswick, Claudette Starbird of Newport and brother Eugene and wife Sue of Skowhegan, sister- in- law, Marjorie Rodrigue of Winslow as well as several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by an Aunt Patricia Madore of Van Buren. Bob was predeceased by his parents as well as his sister, Connie and brother, Louis. The family would like to express their thanks to the entire Cardiac Staff of the 9th floor of Maine Medical Center in Portland. There will be no public visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 112 Silver St., Waterville. A luncheon will immediately follow the mass. Interment will be in the Family Lot in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 78 Grove, St. Waterville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bob's memory may be made to Lakewood Manor Activities Fund, 220 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901.