1925 – 2015

LEWISTON — Dr. Cyprien L. Martel Jr., 89, of Lewiston, passed away peacefully Monday, March 2, surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Martel was born in Lewiston on March 10, 1925, a son of Cyprien Louis Martel and Mary Catherine (Cilley) Martel. He received his education in the Lewiston public schools. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1943, and enrolled at Bates College that same year.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1944, and served in Europe in the 7th U.S. Army Europe, 63rd Infantry Division, 255th Infantry Regiment. After the war, he served in the Army of Occupation, 36th Signal Construction Battalion, and was stationed in Mannheim, Germany. After spending 18 months in Europe, he was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant and awarded both the Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star.

Following the war, he returned to Bates College and graduated in the Class of 1948, with a major in chemistry. He then attended medical school in Boston and graduated from Tufts College Medical School with an M.D. in 1951. He interned at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn., from 1952 to 1953. He completed his surgical residency at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital Hartford in Newington, Conn., from 1953 to 1957. He received several medical certifications, including being certified by American Board of Surgeons in 1959, Fellow American College of Surgeons in 1963, American Medical Association, Maine Medical Association and Androscoggin Medical Association.

In 1957, Dr. Martel returned to his hometown of Lewiston and opened a private practice of general surgery. Dr. Martel was an active staff member of St. Mary’s Hospital from 1957 to 1993. Over his career, he served in various St. Mary’s General Hospital positions, including president of the medical staff, chief of surgery, member of the board of directors and chairman of the board of directors. He was an active advocate of several of the St. Mary’s Hospital’s facility expansions, including the creation of the St. Mary’s d’Youville facility. After more than 35 years, he retired from his practice in 1993.

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Cyprien was a loving husband and a devoted and intensely proud father who treasured time with his family. He and his wife, “Noonie,” who was the love of his life, recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary with their family.

He was an avid reader, especially of American history, and intensely patriotic. He loved vacationing along the Maine coast, having spent summers at Old Orchard Beach in earlier years and then in the Kennebunkport-area in later years. He was a diehard Red Sox fan, having celebrated three championships over the past decade.

He is survived by his beloved wife G. Eunice (Coughlin) Martel; daughter, Lynne Martel and her husband, Jonathan Kutrubes; son, Thomas Martel and his wife, Dawn; son, James Martel and his wife, Carolyn; daughter-in-law, Dianne Martel; and seven grandchildren; as well as a nephew and several nieces.

He was predeceased by his son, William C. Martel; his parents; and four brothers, Charles Cyprien, William (a baby), Robert John and Royal Paul.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.


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