1946 – 2013

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Paul Nadeau, 66, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Shands Hospital, surrounded by his family and the nurses and doctors who cared for him so skillfully and lovingly for more than a year.

Paul was born in Lewiston on April 16, 1946. He retired for the first time at 48, but when he moved to Florida he decided to return to teaching and coaching at Ascension Catholic Church. He enjoyed playing pickle ball, water volleyball, softball and golf. He also loved to play pitch with the Wednesday night men’s group, who were all from New England. He and his wife, Mary, also enjoyed dancing in the town squares.

He was a lifelong sports enthusiast and participant. He excelled at anything he tried. He played on several state high school championship teams in baseball, football and hockey. He was inducted into the Lewiston-Auburn Athletic Hall of Fame in football. On March 22, 1997, his prowess on the soccer field, baseball field and basketball court earned his entrance into the Farmington State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Throughout his 38 years of teaching and coaching, he was admired greatly for the great stories he would tell his students and athletes. He was loved by everyone for his sincerity, friendliness and sense of humor. Paul’s coaching and officiating careers spanned 35 years. He would proudly say he could coach anyone and indeed he did. Many of his student/athletes stay in contact with him today.

His coaching duties took him in a variety of directions, including football, soccer (boys and girls), baseball, softball, basketball and hockey. He received the Maine State Coach of the Year award three times. One of his crowning achievements was founding the Lewiston/Auburn Youth Soccer Program, which is still thriving today. He was elected to Who’s Who in Education two years in a row.

When he turned 50, he decided to start competing again in the National Senior Olympics in racquetball and softball. His team earned a bronze medal in Louisiana. He also coached a softball team and basketball team in Maine and took them to the National Senior Games in Orlando, Fla.

Paul’s rich, full life included friends and family he deeply loved and cherished, including his beloved wife, Mary Paoletti Nadeau from East Millinocket; his adoring daughters, Angela and Anna; his namesake grandson, Paul Richard, aka “li’l p”; and his loving 4-year-old “bébête,” Andrew John. He is also survived by his sister, Venise Treadwell, of Levant, and her four children.

Online condolences may be left at www.beyersfuneralhome.com.

Copy the Story Link