LEWISTON – Robert R. Laliberte of Schooner Estates, Auburn, and formerly of 86 Bern Drive, Winter Haven, Fla., passed away at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Dec. 22, following a long battle with cancer.

Born in Lewiston, April 27, 1921, he was the son of the late Delphis, and Floristine Fournier Laliberte. He was educated at St. Dominic’s High School of Lewiston, The former Robert’s Academy, also of Lewiston, and Strayer College, of Washington D.C., after his military service.

As a young man, he played baseball for a number of Lewiston-Auburn baseball teams. He is a WWII veteran, a platoon sergeant serving with the 103rd Infantry on far away shores such as Munda, The Solomon Islands, The Philippines, and New Guinea. He was wounded in combat, and a Purple Heart Recipient. He prided himself on earning The Soldier’s Combat Medal during 34 months of service in the jungles of the South Pacific. He was a leader of men.

Upon returning to Lewiston, he became a regional distributor of Rawleigh Household Products servicing the Norway, South Paris, and Oxford County areas in general. He met and married the late Charlotte Rosa Larrivee of Lewiston, and in later years he married Rosa Lajoie Laplante, his lifelong friend and partner. He was then employed with the United States Postal Service, as a letter carrier and rural route mailman. He was affectionately known by many as “The Whistling Mailman.”

After retirement, he began his experience with the game of golf, at 65. He relocated to Florida, and became a passionate player of the game. He had three certified “hole-in-one” strokes in his years of play. The Stock Market was also a passion, and always a part of conversation. He loved the game. At 82, he rode on the rear of his son’s Harley Davidson exclaiming, “I like the wind in my face.” He lived his life until the moment he was called home to God.

He is survived by two sisters, Beatrice Jackson, and Lorraine Fournier, of Auburn; his son, Joseph Laliberte, and wife Patsy; his daughter, Elaine Poirier, and husband Robert; four grandchildren, Chad Laliberte, of New York, Christopher Laliberte, of Lewiston, Gregg, and Jay Poirier, also Lewiston; a step-son Roger Laplante, and wife Ann; a step-daughter Diane Dumais, and husband Adrien; step-grandchildren Kevin, and Cindy Laplante, Elaine Dumais, Robert Dumais, Marc Dumais, John Dumais, and Nancy Dumais; and he had two very special friends, Richard and Mary Casper, of Lewiston.