Raymond A. Gadaire of Brockton passed away on March 19, 2009 at New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton. Raymond is survived by his wife of 52 years Jane (McBrien), a son Mark and his wife Blair (Santoro) of Huntington NY, his cherished grandchildren Peyton and Chase, a daughter Janice Fleuriel and her husband Daniel of Shelburne Falls, MA, three sisters, Pauline Gadaire of Auburn, MA, Marguerite Desmond of Brookfield, MA, Marion Renna and her husband Arnold of Charlton, MA, and many nieces and nephews. His brother Leon of Brookfield, MA predeceased Raymond.
Raymond was born in Brookfield, MA on October 7, 1920, the son of Irene (DuBois) and Leon E. Gadaire. Raymond had a lifelong passion for sports and captained his basketball team at Brookfield High School. He worked at the Cloverleaf Farm store in town before entering Becker College in Worcester on a basketball scholarship. On his enlistment in the armed forces during World War II, his business training led to his being in charge of the enlisted pay section of finance in the Mediterranean Theater of Operation. His service in the Army Air Force as Staff Sergeant led to his receiving the Good Conduct medal in January of 1945.
Raymond attended Bridgton Academy in Maine, earned his BA from Middlebury College in Vermont, and his master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State College. He was vice principal, history teacher and coach at Bridgton Academy before teaching and coaching at Milton High School for 39 years. In his junior year while at Middlebury College he was elected to the Blue Key Honor Society, a national society that recognizes college students for all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. During his teaching career Raymond received commendation as outstanding teacher, and in 2002 was elected to the Bridgton Academy Hall of Fame. Raymond was a devoted family man and valued friend, and an avid fly fisherman, tennis player and reader of history and poetry.
Funeral from the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont St, (Rte 123) Brockton, Monday at 10am. Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 439 West Street, Brockton at 11am. Internment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, Nahant, MA, at a later date. Visiting Hours Sunday 2-6pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Home for Little Wanderers, 271 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 02115.