Romeo A. Huppe

1921 – 2009

LEWISTON — Romeo A. Huppe, 88, of 19 Pettingill St., Lewiston, died on Friday, July 17, at his home following a short illness.

He was born in Lewiston on Feb. 12, 1921, the only child of the late Alfred and Dolores (Aube) Huppe. He was educated in local schools, graduating from Lewiston High School in 1940. On June 19, 1971, He married Florida Huppe in New York state.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Air Force as a flight engineer with a B-26 Marauder squadron in the Mediterranean Theater of Operation. As part of the renowned 320th Bombardment Group, he participated in 67 combat missions and received eight personal decorations as well as six unit decorations. He was the recipient of the air medal (six times), and the Purple Heart for wounds received in aerial combat and the Croix de Guerre with Palm from the war time exiled provisional Republic of France for contributing to the success of their advance in the area of Fondi, Italy. His Marauder crew dropped more than 65 tons of bombs on enemy targets. He survived one forced landing and being shot down once.

After the war, he was employed by Kerr Electrical Co. Inc. of Auburn where he continued his education with night school courses. Although mostly self-educated, he served his company for many years as chief estimator, then as the company’s chief engineer. He also taught night school courses in electrical theory at Lewiston High School for 14 years (1925 to 1956 and 1958 to 1968). After the sale of Kerr Electrical Co. Inc. to the Cives Corp. in 1968, he served as president and general manager of the Kerr Electrical Division of the Cives Corp. from 1971 to 1978. In later years, he worked for the Wade and Searway Construction Corp. of Augusta as a project electrical consultant and retired in 1991 as treasurer of the B & H Electrical Consultants Inc.

Romeo was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 567; a lifetime associate of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and for many years an associate of the Illuminating Engineers Society. He belonged to the American Legion and also held Master Electrician licenses at one time or another in seven states.

Romeo is survived by cousins, Romeo J. Huppe of Topsham, Antonio Huppe of St. Isidore d’Auckland, Canada, Maurice Huppe and wife, Elizabeth Anne, of Lewiston; and by two very special friends, William and Donna Bosstic, of Chillicothe, Ohio, who took care of him during his illness.

Romeo was predeceased by his wife, Florida Huppe, in 2006; and cousins, Armand, Paul, Geralr, Arthur, Meville, Robert and Cecil.

Copy the Story Link