Francois I. Lavigueur, Sr., the beloved husband of Helene (Gagne) Lavigueur, 285 Neptune Drive, Mumford Cove, died in the early hours of Dec. 25, 2003, at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich.
Born Jan. 5, 1929, in Brunswick, Maine, he was the son of the late George and Rosa (Mathurin) Lavigueur.
He graduated from Brunswick High School and the Maine Maritime Academy in 1949. After receiving a marine engineering degree, he worked as a merchant mariner traveling the globe for five years. From 1946-1966, Francois was a lieutenant j.g. in the United States Naval Reserve.
He married Helene Gagne of Winslow, Maine on Jan. 5, 1952. In 1954 he and his wife and first son left Maine and moved to Noank for a job at Electric Boat. Frank loved his work and stayed beyond his retirement for a total of 38 years. He also acquired two U.S. patents while employed at EB.
Francois was an avid outdoors-man. He made annual hunting trips to Maine and walked the Haley Farm daily. He was proud of his family canoe trips on the Saco River in 1995, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in 1996 and the St. John's River in 2000. His last expedition was a family fishing trip to Attean Pond in Jackman, Maine, in 2002.
He was the Scoutmaster of Troop 20 in Noank for five years and worked with many young men to earn the Eagle Scout award, the highest award in scouting, one that he was most proud of earning himself. He also loved to ride his motorcycle and traveled throughout New England and Canada. Frank also earned U.S. Coast Guard licenses as 2nd engineer for steam vessels and 3rd engineer for diesel vessels. He served on the Commission of Water and Sanitation in Noank for four years and as moderator of the Groton Representative Town Meeting for two years.
Besides his wife, Helene and sister, Anne Lavigueur of Washington state, surviving are his son, Francois Jr. and wife Kim and grandchildren, Francois III and Avery of Gales Ferry; daughter, Stacey Lavigueur Singer and husband Arthur of North Stonington and granddaughters, Robin and Heidi; son, George and wife Karina of Norwich; son, Stephan and fiancée Joanne and grandchildren, Nathan and Helene of South Windsor; and son, Antoine and wife Kathy and grandchildren, Beatrix and William of Newport, R.I.
He was predeceased by two brothers, George and Jean Louis Lavigueur.
The family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., historic downtown Mystic from 5-7 p.m. on Monday. A funeral Mass and burial will take place in Maine in the spring.
Donations may be made in his memory to Class of 1949, Memorial Scholarship Fund, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME 04421.