LEEDS – Raymond P. Chouinard, 76, of 286 Lakeshore Drive, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 1, at his residence with his family and friends by his side.

He was born in Lewiston July 28, 1930, son of Pierre and Adrienne (Morin) Chouinard. He was educated in Lewiston schools and graduated from St. Dominic Regional High School in 1949. He received his accounting degree from Auburn Maine School of Commerce in 1951. He worked for many local shoe manufacturing facilities in the Lewiston/Auburn area as a cost accountant and/or purchasing agent. He retired from Supreme Slipper Corp. in 1992.

He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Winthrop. He served as a lector, folk group director, parish council member, parish custodian for five years and he was a member of the church choir for 25 years.

He was avidly involved with the men’s club and was known as “the cook.” Many people who went to the monthly men’s club breakfasts looked forward to indulging in his baked beans and crepes.

Much to his family’s dismay, there weren’t many leftovers, Ray was also a member of the Musical Literary Club and served as president for three years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th degree, Wallace Assembly, Council 106 of Lewiston and the Father McGowin Council 7655, 4th degree, in Winthrop. He was also an active member of Le Club Calumet in Augusta, where he was president in 1997 and The Cecilia Club in Augusta. In the past, he was a member of The Elks Club, The Eagles, The Jacques Carrier Snowshoe Club, Le Montagnard, The Pastime and the American Musicians Union Local No. 109.

He was passionate about many different things. He loved fishing, sports, cooking, wood working, arts and crafts and tinkering with anything that needed fixing. His workshop was known locally as “Ray’s Neighborhood Hardware.” If anyone needed anything, especially if they couldn’t find it at the local hardware store, they could find it in all the tins and coffee cans, labeled accordingly, in his cellar.

Above all, his biggest passion was music, particularly the songs and history of the Franco-American heritage that he was so proud of. He sang and performed with the Bob Renaud Band for three years. The Dick Demers Trio for 6 years, the Fascinations for 12 years and the band that he was best known for 21 years, the C’est Si Bon Band. He played a large part in starting the Lewiston Franco-American Festival, La Kennesse Festival in Biddeford, La Bastille Festival in Augusta, The Winslow Festival in Winslow, Le Festival du Bois in Berlin, N.H. and The International Festival in Albany, N.Y. The band performed for five years at the Quebec Winter Carnival in Quebec City, Canada, proudly representing the state of Maine. He visited many local elementary schools, educating the children on the Franco-American heritage. He played them the music, showed them how to play the “spoons” and indulged them in the art of “crepe making.”

For 50 years, he was involved in directing and producing many broadway musicals, variety shows, minstrels and Soiree Canadiennes. He started the tradition when he worked at Knapp Shoe back in the 1950s and 1960s. After that, he did it for many years with the Knights of Columbus in Lewiston. From there, he spread to Le Club Calumet in Augusta. Many people have had the pleasure of saying that they met their “partner” doing one of his variety shows. This organizational talent and passion of music and entertaining helped many organizations and clubs raise the funds necessary to fulfill a dream. Although he loved all the shows, he directed and produced, Christmas shows with the whole family involved, especially the kids, were his favorite.

He will be best-known by the community for his commitment to the Franco-American heritage but to his family and friends, he will be known as the king of lobster and clam bakes. Not an opportunity was missed, especially when an out-of-state relative was stopping in, would he jump in his car and go buy lobsters and clams. There was ALWAYS a reason to have lobsters and clams. Nothing meant more to him than to have a good meal, sit around the outdoor fireplace, play games and just enjoy the company of family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, the former Therese M. Caron, whom he married June 9, 1951; a son, Richard R., and wife, Lynn, of Bedford, Texas; a daughter, Ann Brown, and her husband, Peter Jr., of Leeds; a sister, Irene Biron of Lewiston; three grandchildren, Joshua Baril, Derek Chouinard and Jennifer Montalvo; and two great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins; a-lot of brothers and sisters-in-law; plus many, many friends.

He was predeceased by his son, Ronald F. Chouinard in 2000.