Edward Rabasco Sr.

1932 – 2009

LEWISTON – Edward Rabasco Sr., 76, died from multiple myeloma Friday, June 26, at Central Maine Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He was a resident of Dana Avenue in Auburn.

He was born in Winthrop, Mass., Aug. 23, 1932, a son of Pasquale Rabasco and Josephine Goffreda. He was raised in Boston, Mass. His parents emigrated from Italy as young children, Pasquale from Calitri, Italy and Josephine from Savignano, Italy. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955 stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii.

On June 20, 1953, he married his bride of 56 years, Shirley Gilbride Rabasco. Their love story is a unique one. They fell in love through numerous letters they exchanged from Maine to Hawaii over a one year period. He proposed to Shirley in one such letter and they met face-to-face for the first time one month before they were to be married.

He was a dedicated worker obtaining his first job when he was 10 years old delivering milk in Boston. He started his own shoe shining business as a 12 year old boy, hitchhiking from his home in East Boston to the North End to serve his customers. He was an avid baseball player and fan. As a teen, he played baseball for East Boston High School. He also played often on the streets and lots of Boston, where a scout for the Boston Red Sox noticed him and offered him an opportunity to tryout for the Red Sox. He declined the opportunity and instead joined the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, he moved to Maine with his wife and started a family. In his younger years, he worked numerous jobs, including Benson & Sullivan and as a cameraman at WMTW Television Station. He studied electronics and joined Sears & Roebuck Co. in 1962. He was employed there for 33 years before his retirement. For many years, he operated his own business, Auburn Radio & TV.

He studied art at Westport Famous Artists Painting School and enjoyed portrait oil painting. He painted portraits of his grandchildren and gave them as treasured gifts to his children. He continued his love of baseball coaching his sons in Little League baseball. He particularly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, attending their baseball games, softball games, basketball games and dance recitals. He enjoyed working in his vegetable garden in the backyard. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Rabasco; son, Stephen of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; daughter, Linda and husband, Michael Soucy, of Turner; son, Edward Jr. of Poland; daughter, Patricia and husband, Richard Duchesneau, of Sabattus; son, John and his wife, Jennifer, of Allentown, Pa.; son, Michael and wife, Sarah, of Washington, D.C.; nine grandchildren, Joshua Soucy, Ashley Soucy, Katherine Rabasco, Matthew Rabasco, Nicholas Rabasco, Christopher Rabasco, Sarah Duchesneau, Britney Duchesneau and Alexandra Rabasco.

He was predeceased by his parents; and seven siblings, brothers, Canio, Pasquale (Sonny), and Nicholas; sisters, Anne, Angela, Josephine, and Loretta. The family thanks the nurses at CMMC on M1 and T1.