LEWISTON – Romeo T. “Butch” Bouchard, 90, of 28 Perley St., died Sunday morning, Jan. 16, at d’Youville Pavilion, following a brief illness.

Born in Lewiston, Nov. 9, 1914, he was the son of Thomas and Eliza Bachand Bouchard. His mother passed away when he was very young, and from that time he was raised by his father and stepmother, Marie.

He was educated in local schools and worked at Lewiston City Hall for 37 years as head custodian, retiring in 1976.

He was a talented trumpet player, having played with bands at dance halls for weddings and other occasions for more than five decades. He was very active in the PAL, working at the PAL Hops. He also operated the Perley Street skating rink in the late 50s and 60s.

He will be remembered for his devoted love for his family, his sense of humor, and his special love for the hockey players at the Perley Street skating rink, whom he called the boys – they were like a family to him. He also was one of the organizers of the PAL-Pinette Junior AHA hockey team that won the 1968 New England Junior AHA hockey tournament, and later competed in Colorado Springs in the Junior AHA national tournament.

He married the former June Hodgdon Wiswell on Jan. 1, 1949, who died in February of 2003.

He is survived by three sons, Romeo Jr. and his wife, Rena, of Lewiston, Maurice and his wife, Margaret, of Sabattus, and Thomas and his wife, Sheila, of Auburn; one daughter, Brenda Bouchard of Dixfield; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, Paul; a grandson, Carl; a stepdaughter, Barbara; two sisters, Muriel and Stephanie; and a daughter-in-law, Cecile (Paul’s wife.)

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