Obituary of Gerard P. Coulombe

Gérard P. Coulombe, age 92, born September 3, 1931, in Biddeford, ME, passed away peacefully on October 10th, 2023. Gérard was the eldest child of Clara (Coutu) and Felix Coulombe. He is survived by his wife, Juliette (Salvas) Coulombe, whom he married as a student at the Neuman Chapel, University of Maine; his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin Coulombe & Mary Monfort, of Edmonds, WA, his son, Thad Coulombe, of Hartford, CT, Theo Coulombe, and his fiancée, Victoria Hood, of Sharon, CT, his daughter, Renee Coulombe, of Pocasset, MA; his grandchildren, Ted Coulombe, his partner, Amanda, and Ted's mother, Kathleen Mylen-Coulombe, of West Haven, CT; Emily Ford and fiancé, Mitch, of Keansburg, NJ, Sarah Ford and her partner, Ben, of Boston, MA, Conor Ford, of Lee, MA, and Sophia Ford, and her partner, Brett, of Chicago, IL; his sister, Julienne Asselin, of Vermont; many nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and extended family members, Rose, Paul, and Ashley Ross, and Megan Doback and Peter Doback, whose lives were impacted by the great love shown to them. He was predeceased by his sister, Thérese Collard, of Biddeford, ME. Growing up in the French speaking, French-Canadian community of Biddeford Maine, Gérard worked at the local textile mill as a teenager to help support his family. In elementary school, his 4th-grade teacher took him to McArthur Library to take out books to improve his English and further his studies. Here his love of education began. Gérard graduated from St Louis High School, Biddeford ME. He immediately enlisted in the US Air Force (1950-1954) just prior to the Korean War. He was honorably discharged (National Defense Service Medal) at the rank of staff sergeant. He went to college on the GI Bill at the University of Maine, Orono, where he earned a BA and Master of Arts in Education and later earned a Sixth-year certificate from Hofstra University. Gérard went on to become the Chairman of the English Department at Schrieber High School, Port Washington, NY, and retired in 1993 as Assistant Principal of Darien High School, Darien, Connecticut. Gérard was an advocate for students with disabilities. He admired teachers who could reach students with all types of learning styles. He enjoyed camping, woodworking, art, theater, taking long drives with his wife, Julie, on Sunday afternoons, and spending weekends with long-time friends. He achieved his goal of driving cross country with his nephew, David Collard. His second trip was solo and covered other routes, west and east, across the US. In retirement, he volunteered at Kolbe Cathedral High School, teaching English. He helped organize the Black Rock Food Pantry with fellow St. Ann Parishioners and Black Rock Residents Dr. Jim Roach and Dr. Gery Habansky. Gérard was a writer, poet, and avid reader and passed that passion of reading onto his children and grandchildren. He contributed many articles for the University of Maine, Franco American program quarterly, Le FORUM, and many poetry publications. He was a member of the Connecticut Poetry Society and a member of a local poetry group, which he enjoyed so much. Visitation for Gerard will take place on Friday, November 3, 2023, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, in Fairfield Center. Funeral services will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home. His burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Le Forum, 110 Crossland Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5719. For travel directions or to sign his online guest register, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com