LEWISTON – Ernest A. Potvin, 89, a resident of Oak St. in Auburn, died Monday afternoon, Sept. 20, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

He was born in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, May 26, 1915, a son of Arthur and Victoria (Cote) Potvin.

He was educated at St. Louis school in Auburn and later attended St. Hyacinthe school in Quebec.

On Aug. 23, 1943, he married the former Berangere Sirois. Mr. Potvin was a military veteran having served in the Army during World War II in France and Germany.

In his early years he worked in local mills before going to work for B.F. Goodrich in Boston for several years. After which he later worked 15 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a custodian where he liked to say he received his degree in “broomatology” before returning to this area after retirement.

He was a member of the Auburn Catholic Community and was a life-member of the New Auburn Social Club as well.

Among his favorite enjoyments were coin collecting, playing cards, at which he was an expert, and attending the races at the horse track, something at which he was not such an expert.

Other favorite enjoyments were bowling and golfing, in which he was a member of many leagues. He was also an avid sports fan which included being a die-hard Red Sox fan. As a young man he had the chance to play local baseball for the Auburn Crusaders for several seasons.

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Berangere Potvin, of Auburn; a daughter, Diane Zyck and husband, Robert, of Atlanta, Ga; two sons, Ron Potvin and fiancee, Noella, of Auburn and Raymond Potvin, of Boston; a daughter-in-law, Sue Potvin, of Lewiston; four grandchildren, Brian Potvin, Trena Jackson, and Robert and Evan Zyck; two great-grandchildren, Acalia and Jevante Jackson; a sister, Theresa Roberge and husband, Roland, of Auburn; a brother, Fernand Potvin and wife, Yvette, of Turner; and a brother-in-law, William Burke and wife, Susan, of Toronto, Canada.

He was predeceased by three sons, Maurice, Roger and Joseph, two brothers, Andy and Maurice, and two sisters, Yvette and Simonne.

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