1932 – 2015

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Gerard Proulx died unexpectedly on Monday, Nov. 2, in Scottsdale, Ariz. He lived a happy and vibrant life and loved being in Arizona.

He was born in Nashua, N.H., and was raised in an orphanage after his father left his family upon his birth. He was recruited by the order of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at 14 years old and was known as Brother Clarence. He left the brotherhood in 1965.

He received his master’s degree in education at 19 years old and taught at Central Falls High School and Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island and St. Dominic Academy in Lewiston. He taught French, Latin, English, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus. He also coached tennis, hockey and debate.

He married Georgette Vachon Proulx in 1966 and they lived in Old Orchard Beach, where he taught at Sanford High School and Old Orchard Beach High School, until he pursued a very successful career in real estate.

Gerry was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Club Richelieu and was a third- and fourth-degree Knight of Columbus. He enjoyed tennis, swimming, long walks on the beach, reading and later in life, gardening.

After his wife’s death in 2011, he set out to search for an old friend whom he had been fond of while teaching at St. Dom’s and finally succeeded in finding her through her son’s obituary in March 2012. He married Bernice Filiault Ducharme on July 23, 2013. Although Bernice and Gerry only had three and a half years together, it was the happiest time of their lives. Gerry would often say: “God sure saved the best for my last years.”

He was predeceased by his mother, Beatrice Proulx; his father, Albert Proulx; and his wife, Georgette Proulx.

He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Bernice; her daughter, husband, and their two sons; his sister, Jane and and husband, Dr. Anthony Strazzeri, and their three children and grandchildren; stepdaughter, Dr. Pauline Beal and her husband, Dr. Bill Beaker, and her two children and grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Lorraine Jalbert and Dorothy Rousseau and her husband, Guy.