1948 – 2003

LEWISTON – Daniel H. Pelletier, 55, of Lewiston, died at his home on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, in the arms of his wife.

A 24-year veteran of the Lewiston Police Department, he retired as inspector of police in February. While a member of the police force, he served as the department’s accreditation manager and was instrumental in passing the first accreditation evaluation in 1995.

He also wrote many successful grants to help fund special projects and equipment upgrades. Prior to being in the office full time, he worked as a patrol sergeant and before that as a patrolman, walking the beat between Park Street and the Androscoggin River.

Born June 5, 1948, the son of Harry J. and Priscilla (Dion) Pelletier, he attended school locally at Holy Cross School and at Lewiston High School. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at St. Michael’s College in Burlington, Vt., where he studied psychology and English.

On June 12, 1971, he married his high school sweetheart, the former Marguerite (Maggie) Jeanne Goulet in a ceremony at Saints Peter and Paul Church.

From 1972 to 1973, he worked as a counselor at Abilities and Goodwill in Portland. In 1973 he joined the United Way and was named the youngest executive director ever in the Twin Cities. While at United Way, he helped to found Pathways, Inc., which has since grown into a multi-faceted agency serving people across the region.

In 1977, he became director of public communication at St. Mary’s General Hospital, now St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, and in 1979 joined the police force. In January of 1979 he was accepted into the Lewiston Police Department, where he spent the next 24 years.

He enjoyed many adventures with his friends and family and enjoyed trips to the mountains, hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, boating and swimming.

He was an avid stamp collector and enjoyed painting and cooking in his spare time, as well as spending time in his “cave” in the backyard or in front of a fire with a good cigar.

He also coached several seasons of youth hockey and enjoyed watching his son play sports through the years.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Marguerite of Lewiston; one son, Justin and his fiancee, Lyndsay-Eileen, of Lewiston; two “brothers,” Roland Potvin and his wife, Bonnie, of Auburn and George St. Clair, Jr. and his wife, Pauline, of Lewiston; an aunt, Georgia “Belle” (Pelletier) Skolas of Westbrook; two godchildren, Susan (St. Clair) Caron and her husband, Mike, of Bradenton, Fla. and Lt. j.g. David J. Ogden of Virginia Beach, Va.; and many cousins, great neighbors and friends.

He was predeceased by his father, Harry in 1988 and his mother, Priscilla in 1989.