LEWISTON – Guildo O. (Gil) Poliquin, almost 85, of 141 Birch Drive, Poland Spring, joined his beloved wife, Dorita, in heaven on Dec. 19.

Dorita went to be with the Lord on Jan. 2, 2000. His last weeks were spent at d’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston, where he received outstanding, compassionate care. Beacon Hospice and Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice were quite helpful and supportive to him and his family. And a special thanks to Virginia Slattery for her wonderful warmth and personal care in his last months.

He was born on Jan. 2, 1923, in Lewiston to Dorothy L’Heureux Poliquin and Armand Poliquin. He was the oldest of three children and was predeceased by his brother, Milio Poliquin, who passed this year, and sister, Monita Poliquin Collet, who passed in 1997. The Poliquin and L’Heureux families have strong roots in the greater Lewiston area dating back to the 1700s.

He was educated in Lewiston public schools and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1941. After high school, he attended and graduated from the New York School of Optics in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1942, and the Nichols & Clark Hearing Laboratory in Danvers, Mass. in 1955. He worked for many years alongside his father and brother at Poliquin’s Jewelry Store on Lisbon Street in Lewiston.

On Sept. 1, 1947, he married Dorita M. Vincent of Auburn at St. Louis Catholic Church and enjoyed 52 years of marriage. He and Dorita raised three children in Lewiston and moved from Lewiston to Poland Spring in 1976.

In 1955, he became a pioneer in the developing hearing aid profession. He worked diligently and tirelessly in reaching out to the hearing impaired in various remote locations within the state making house calls. His outgoing, professional personality and sense of humor made him well received by his patients.

In 1971, he, Dorita and son, Gilbert, founded their own business, Gil Poliquin’s Hearing Aid & Optical Center located on Lisbon Street in Lewiston. This business continues to thrive under the management of Gilbert. He served on the State Hearing Aid Licensing Board for numerous years. This board position was under appointments from Gov. James Longley, Gov. Joseph Brennan, and Gov. John McKernan.

In past years, he was active with the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club, the Auburn Exchange Club and the Poland Lions Club. He was a Roman Catholic who regularly attended Mass until his health declined and strongly believed in the power of prayer.

He enjoyed spending summers at Tripp Lake from 1948 until 1975. He also enjoyed their second home in Eustis and loved his toys: cars, boats, snowmobiles and motorcycles. He and Dorita enjoyed travel especially to Bermuda and the Caribbean Islands. They had memorable trips to Italy, Austria and England. They shared many good times with a strong circle of friends referred to as “the gang.” Later in their marriage, he and Dorita spent winters in Florida. He was an avid reader, with an outgoing personality, a great sense of humor, and he loved to engage anyone in conversation.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Gilbert and Diana Poliquin of Poland; his daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Daniel LaBrecque of Poland Spring; his daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Raymond Paradis of Arrowsic; nine grandchildren, Meghan Smith, Shawn Poliquin, Joseph Poliquin, Kelly LaBrecque, Benjamin LaBrecque, Angela Cook, Lisa Dulac, Michael Paradis and Craig Paradis; four great-grandchildren, Isaac Poliquin, Sequoia Smith, Kaleb Cook and Hali Cook; his companion and cousin’s widow, Mrs. Rudolph (Georgette) Poliquin; in-laws, Mrs. Milio (Rolande) Poliquin, Louis and Lorraine Vincent and George and Jeanne Vincent; cousins, Sister Claire LePage and Louise LePage Carpentier; along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.