1937 – 2016

AUGUSTA — Raymond D. Albert of Augusta died Friday, Feb. 5, of cancer at Togus Springs Hospice.

He was born in Augusta on Oct. 30, 1937, to Renee and Laura (Veilleux) Albert Sr.

Raymond attended St. Augustine School and graduated from Cony High School in 1956. While at Cony, Ray joined the Marine Corps Reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1957.

He married his best friend and love, Lisette Gosselin, in April 1958. He owned and operated Ray’s Esso Station on Water Street in Augusta for many years. At that time, he started a bowling team and a good time was had by all. He owned a franchise with the Giltex Manufacturing Co. of Connecticut for over 10 years. He finished his working days at Statler Tissue Co.

In his earlier years, Ray coached farm and Little League teams. With his friend, Don Brawn, he started a youth hockey team sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Ray enjoyed coaching and bringing the kids to the Kennebec Ice Arena at 5 a.m. for practice. The van was always full.

Ray was also very active at St. Augustine Church with the Parish Council, marriage encounter, counseling at the Kennebec County Jail, and delivering for Meals on Wheels.

Ray was diagnosed with Cerebellar Degeneration in 1988, and became permanently disabled.

Ray and Liz spent 17 years in Lakeland, Fla. They made a Florida family of friends, 27 of whom came to visit him in Augusta. Their home was always open to company. He enjoyed the pool daily, playing cards two or three times per week and the activities at the club house. He made a mean spaghetti sauce and fresh orange juice and enjoyed trips to the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.

While women in the park were playing Bingo on Monday nights, Ray started a group of men going to Wings, 20 to 30 of them. It is still going strong. He also enjoyed all of the theme parks, baseball parks and flea markets with family and friends.

Ray had many hobbies. He enjoyed his word searches, his jigsaw puzzles and baseball hat collections, 450 strong. His favorite hobby was making and repairing rosaries. He learned the art from Sister Noella of the Sisters of Presentation at the age of 11.

He was a lifetime member of Le Club Calumet. He hosted many dignitaries on his deck during the Bastille Day parades. They came from France, Louisiana, Quebec, as well as our own Franco-Americans. He was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus. While in the K of C, Ray helped put on many family communion breakfasts at the Corner Restaurant on State Street, and later at the new K of C hall on Riverside Drive. Ray was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He enjoyed all of the grandkids’ sports. He had a ready smile and great sense of humor. If Ray loved you, you knew it.

Ray is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lisette; his sister, Beverly Bossie and husband, Patrick, of Augusta; son, Ronald Albert and wife, Nancy, of Fairfield, Conn.; son, Rick Albert and wife, Linda, of Augusta; daughter, Gisele Beaudoin and husband, Ron, of Sidney; and son, Reginald Albert and wife, Eileen, of Auburn. He is also survived by grandchildren, Nicolas Albert and wife, Megan Trotter, of San Francisco, Calif., Jacob Albert of Augusta, Danika McCann and husband, James, of New Windsor, N.Y., Erin Albert of Fairfield, Conn., Maeghan Purdy-Hass and husband, Lee, of Winthrop, Madison Purdy of Hallowell, Jonathan Albert and Amy Mulvena of Boston, Mass., Zachary Albert and Emily Spence of Boston, Mass., and Emily Albert of Auburn. He is also survived by great-grandsons, Ryker and Wyatt Hass of Winthrop. Ray leaves sisters-in-law, Arline Caron and husband, Richard, of Bangor, Theresa Tardiff and husband, Romeo, of Augusta, and Jeannine Albert of Augusta. He also leaves behind his devoted and best friend, Roger Vachon and wife, Cecile, of Augusta; many nieces and nephews; and awesome cousins.

Ray was predeceased by his parents; his special uncle, Leo Albert; his brother, Renee Jr.; his twin brother, Ronald, who died in infancy and whom Ray always loved; and his son-in-law, Tim A. Purdy.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ross, Dr. Schneid, Elizabeth, JoJo and all the nurses at Togus Springs for their exceptional care of Ray as well as the hospice nurses and CNAs from Maine General Health, especially Karen and Stacy. The level of care that Ray received was one of a kind.