EAST BOOTHBAY – Henry Armand Sirois, 74, of 13 Lincoln St., East Boothbay, died Monday, Oct. 8, peacefully with his family by his side.

Born in Lewiston, July 15, 1933, he was a son of Henry J. and Euphemie Caron Sirois. Henry, also known as Joe or “the Bear,” grew up on College Street in Lewiston, with five sisters and brothers attending Lewiston schools, where he played basketball. Upon graduating high school he attended the University of Toledo and University of Hawaii on basketball scholarships.

Henry joined the Marines in 1950, and served in Korea during the Korean War. He returned home to graduate from the University of Maine, with a bachelor’s degree in science. He then moved to Massachusetts and taught science and coached for 11 years at North Reading High School, while earning a master’s degree in education from Salem State College.

He then moved to East Boothbay with his young family. There he opened and ran Mario’s on Pier One for 38 years, and Jordan’s Upstairs Downstairs, retiring in 2003. He was a past member of the Boothbay Rotary Club and Andover, Mass., Elks Club. He took great pleasure in his long-standing membership of the Thursday Night Poker Group. He was well-known for his sardonic sense of humor and soft heart.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, the former Joyce Beaulieu Sirois of East Boothbay, whom he married on June 30, 1962; his daughters, Nicole Sirois of California, Alison Sirois of Jefferson and Jessica Sirois of Damariscotta; his son, David A. Sirois of Boothbay; a sister, Lorraine Bennett and her husband, Arthur, of North Yarmouth; his brothers, Roger Sirois and his wife, Martha, of Greene and Dr. Raymond Sirois and his wife, Claudette, of Auburn; and several nieces and nephews.