MANCHESTER, N.H. – Richard and Louisa Gendron of Manchester, N.H., formerly of Lewiston, were given a surprise party recently on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary. The event was planned by their children, Philip and Christine Gendron of Plymouth, Mass., and Michele and Kevin Lacerda of Londonderry, N.H.

Mr. Gendron and the former Louisa Celani were married in October of 1946 at Holy Cross Church in Lewiston. They are both graduates of Lewiston High School, Mrs. Gendron in 1943 and Mr. Gendron in 1944. Their oldest daughter, Linda Willwerth, succumbed to cancer in 2001. They have seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Mr. Gendron served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theatre on the LST 49. He graduated from Bentley College in 1952 and worked at Howard Johnson headquarters in Quincy, Mass., as an assistant controller for 12 years, and then for 10 years at the Seiler Corp. in Waltham, Mass., as senior vice president, treasurer and director. Thereafter, for a number of years, he owned and operated a management consulting business with an office in Boston, Mass., a liquor business in Quincy, Mass., and a commercial real estate company in Weymouth, Mass. He established the Knights of Columbus Council #6267 as founding grand knight in Pembroke, Mass., in 1971, and is a 51-year member, as well as a Fourth Degree Knight. He served many years in the Catholic church as lector and Eucharistic minister.

Mrs. Gendron worked for many years as a bookkeeper for a law firm in Boston. She was very active in their parish in Pembroke, Mass. She served as Eucharistic minister and prefect of St. Thecla’s Sodality. They both worked as volunteers at Acadia National Park for a few years, after their retirement.

The couple has many relatives and friends in the Lewiston-Auburn area.