Roger J. Pepin

BRADENTON, Fla. – Roger J. Pepin passed away on Jan. 16, 2023, in Bradenton, Fla. with his family by his side.

Roger was born in Rumford in 1935 to Alma and Paul Pepin and attended local schools growing up. He graduated from Stephens High School in 1954, where he was an outstanding athlete, excelling in several sports for the Panthers. He attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Education.

On July 4, 1957 he married his high school sweetheart Janet Lanteigne. Over the next five decades together, they raised four children, Peter, Laurie, Patricia and Patrick. He was a great father, educator and coach. He enjoyed spending his summers entertaining family and friends around the pit fire at Concord Pond.

During his 33-year teaching career, he taught Phys Ed, Biology, Driver’s Ed and coached basketball. His quick wit, sense of humor endeared him to both staff and students. He loved playing and watching sports and was a lifelong proponent of physical fitness and had the Mountain Valley High School weight room named in his honor. He loved playing softball in the Rumford Softball League. He was a communicant of St. John’s Parish and a member of the Elks, Eagles and Snowshoe Club fraternal organizations.

He and Janet enjoyed traveling the world and later in life became snowbirds, spending their winters in Florida. While home for the summer, he could often be found having his morning coffee at Hannaford’s acting as their “unofficial” official greeter, welcoming all with a smile or a song.

Roger was predeceased by his wife, Janet; parents Alma and Paul; brothers Gerard, Lionel and Paul, sisters Anita Goudreau, Pauline Gogan and Bertha Morrison; and grandson Colin Ellsworth.

He is survived by his children Peter Pepin and his wife Cindy, Laurie Frost and her husband Brian, Patricia Pepin, Patrick Pepin and his wife Monica; grandchildren Kristen Pepin and husband Erik Baker, Elise Bossie, Lauren Dempsey and her husband Derek and Jacqueline Pepin; great-grandchildren Wyatt and Milo Baker and Chase and Avery Dempsey.

Services will be held in Rumford at The Parish of the Holy Savior at 10 a.m. on July 29.