VIENNA, Va. — Albert Lucien Sasseville, lieutenant colonel, United States Air Force (retired), of Lewiston, passed away peacefully at his home in Vienna, Va., on Thursday, May 19, surrounded by his family.

Colonel Sasseville was born on Sept. 10, 1936, in Lewiston to the late Sylvio J. Sasseville and Alberte M. Gastonguay. He graduated from St. Dominic High School in Lewiston in 1954. He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and graduated from St. Michael’s College, Winooski, Vt., in 1958, with a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages. Upon graduating from St. Michael’s College as an Air Force ROTC distinguished military graduate, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

In 1960, he obtained a master’s degree from Fordham University, New York, with a major in French and a minor in Spanish. After graduation, he entered active duty with the U.S. Air Force and served as an Air Force intelligence officer in Munich, West Germany, at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and at Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of South Vietnam.

In February 1967, following his military service, he was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency. His proficiency and fluency in languages, as well as his intelligence experience in the Air Force, contributed to his long and successful career with the agency. He served as both an operations officer and a liaison officer, supporting the European and Latin American Divisions in France, Spain, Morocco, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico. He retired from the CIA in October 1994, but continued to serve his country and the CIA as an independent contractor until 2010. He was decorated with the CIA Career Commendation Medal for his exceptional achievements and dedicated service; his military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor first class.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 48 years, Yita, of Vienna, Va.; three children, Col. Marc H. Sasseville and wife, Karin, of Fairfax, Va., Lt. Col. Andrew M. Sasseville and wife, Rebecca, of San Antonio, Texas and Diane A. Sasseville Sweet and husband, Eric, of San Francisco, Calif. Al has seven grandchildren: Luc, Lauren, Jake, Natalia, Zack, Dominic and Adrian.

Al will always be remembered for his sage advice, his quick wit, his sense of humor and his storytelling, replete with accents and sound effects. He enriched the lives of all those who knew him and despite his departure, the love and smiles he gave us will always remain.