1936 – 2003

LEWISTON – Donia R. “Don” Girard Jr., 66, beloved husband of Lucille, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, surrounded by his devoted family, after battling cancer with awe inspiring tenacity.

Born in Lewiston, Oct. 2, 1936, the son of Donia Sr. and Lawrence (Poulin) Girard, he was a lifetime resident of this area and graduated from St. Dominic High School in 1955.

In three of the four years at St. Dominic High School, he was named All-State goaltender. In the 1955 season, he was the goaltender for the American Hockey Association U.S. Championship team and was named All-New England goalie. He attended Providence College on a hockey scholarship and graduated in 1959.

In 1961 he returned to Lewiston as a French teacher and hockey coach. During his 15 years of coaching Blue Devils hockey, he guided his teams to six Maine championships. Don’s teams were also runner-up in five other campaigns. In the final season before his retirement in 1976, Lewiston captured not only the state championship but also the New England championship.

In 1997 he was inducted into the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall Of Fame.

During his tenure at Lewiston High School he served as chairman of the Foreign Language Department, golf coach and athletic director. He retired from teaching in 1991 and always remembered with fondness and love many of his students and former hockey players.

He volunteered 13 years of outstanding service and dedication as a member on the Board of Directors at the St. Croix Credit Union. He was a founder and first president of the Holy Cross School P.F.T.A. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Lewiston Youth Hockey program. He enjoyed planning outings and golfing with his Credit Union buddies, Norm Demers, Gerry Berube, Roger Doiron and his recently deceased childhood friend, Bob Labbe.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Lucille (DeRome) Girard, whom he married on July 26, 1958; his five children and their spouses, Dr. Mark and Kim Girard, Julie and Mark Burnes, Michelle and Mark Ferullo, Suzanne Girard and Anne-Marie and Gregory Siroonian; his nine grandchildren, Elizabeth and Stephen Girard, Benjamin and Amelia Burnes, Timothy Ferullo, Erin Marie Browne and Gabrielle, Gregory and Donia Rose Siroonian.

He shared his love of trains with his grandchildren and would spend hours teaching them model railroading.