1930 – 2003

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Raymond E. Rodrigue, 72, of Hallandale Beach, Fla., and formerly of Lewiston, died early Tuesday morning, July 29, at the Hospice Homecare by the Sea following a long illness with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born in Lewiston Oct. 8, 1930, a son of Ernest and Arzelia (Binette) Rodrigue. He was educated in Lewiston schools and remained a longtime local resident and businessman.

He was a Veteran of the military having served his country in the Air Force during the Korean War until he was honorably discharged in October of 1953.

In his earlier years he owned and operated different franchise businesses which included Kirby Vacuum Co. and Healthware Co. Inc. until 1968 when he founded his own alarm systems company known as State Alarm. He ran the business until 1994 when he sold it to his sons.

He was a member of Holy Cross Church and was a founding member and past treasurer of the Maine Burglar Fire Alarm Association. He enjoyed investing in and purchasing different real estate properties over the years and often did so with multiple ventures in both Lewiston-Auburn and Florida. He could take a weed and turn it into a rose.

He was also a “jack of all trades” who was always more than willing to help out his neighbors with any kind of project around their home. He and his wife always enjoyed entertaining as they spent more than four decades wintering in Florida.

He leaves his wife of 50 years, the former Lorraine Carpentier of Hallandale Beach, Fla., whom he married May 16, 1953; five sons, Daniel of Auburn, Michael and his wife Doris of Lewiston, Richard and his wife Therese also of Lewiston, David and his fiance Melissa Worsham of So. Portland and Dean and his partner, Michael Cheeping of Miami Beach, Fla.; five grandchildren, Dawn Inderbitzen and husband Kirk, Matthew, Lauren, Christien and Stephanie; one great-grandson, Willem Inderbitzen; three sisters, Annette Falasco and husband Sonny of Jamaica Queens, NY, Cecile Verreault and husband Robert and Jeanne Rodrigue both of Lewiston; one brother, Henry and wife Yvette of Lewiston; several nieces and nephews; his mother-in-law, Germaine Carpentier of Lewiston; many friends in Canada, Michigan, New York and Washington; and his little Shih-tzu, “Pichou Noir.”

He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Emile and Rudy; and a sister, Ida Caron.

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