CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Dr. Raphael (Ralph) Turgeon, beloved husband and father, departed this world on Oct. 25, in Cape Coral, Fla.

He was born on July 7, 1924, in Dover, N.H. He was one of the youngest of 17 children born to Anna and Hector Turgeon. He served two years in the U.S. Navy at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. This inspired an interest in medicine and he subsequently completed his pre-med courses at the University of New Hampshire, acquiring his bachelor’s degree in 1949.

He attended the University of Laval Medical School in the province of Quebec, Canada. He graduated Cum Laude with his medical degree in 1954. Several years of surgical residency training were obtained at the Providence Hospital in Detroit, Mich.

Dr. Turgeon established his practice in family medicine in Westbrook in 1956, and continued until retiring in 1986. He was one of the most loved doctors. Many of our family pets were received in lieu of payments for his services. He was also one of the last to make house calls and nursing home visits. He held staff privileges at the Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital and the Westbrook Community Hospital.

During his active practice, he held many administrative hospital positions including president of the medical staff. He was also president of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of General Practitioners, member of the Maine Medical Association, Cumberland Medical Association and was an officer in the St. Luke’s Guild. Dr. Turgeon served as health officer for the City of Westbrook. He was a medical examiner and boxing commission physician for the state of Maine. He was president of the Westbrook Kiwanis Club and a 43-year member of the Portland Country Club.

Dr. Turgeon had two “15 minutes of fame” in his career. He was honored for having written a poem in the memory of Admiral Forrestal, who died tragically in 1949. He also was the noted physician to Sonny Liston, who fought Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali), in the heavy weight championship match held in Lewiston in 1965.

Dr. Turgeon leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Pauline Ouellette Turgeon of Lewiston, together they raised five sons: Dr. Daniel and his wife, Maureen, sons Jacque and Nick of Reston, Va., Rene and son, Alec of Ft. Myers, Fla., Allan and his wife, Suzanne (Mathieu), sons, Tyler and Ryan of Auburn, James of Westbrook and John and his wife, Mary of Saco; dad also has one great-grandson, Jaqson; he also leaves one brother, Edmond Turgeon of Rochester, N.H., and St. Petersburg, Fla.; along with many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Turgeon was a man with many interests. Although his passion was golf, he loved spending time with his family, traveling, fishing, boating, hunting, snowmobiling and skiing.