1928 – 2015

LEWISTON — Gerard T. Morin, 87, of Roy Street, Lewiston, died Friday, Dec. 4, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Lewiston, with his family by his side.

He was born in Lewiston on July 8, 1928, the son of Edgar and Eva (Paradis) Morin. He graduated from St. Dominic High School Class of 1946, and completed one year of college through the University of Maryland.

He was a communicant of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. He was a member of AARP, the American Legion Post 22 and the Air Force Association.

He had a military career of over 22 years. During his military career, he served in the administrative and personnel career fields. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on April 29, 1946. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Leyte (CV-32) for nine months, visiting many European countries on goodwill visits.

On Feb. 24, 1948, he was honorably discharged. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 11, 1948, serving in the occupation of Japan until June 1950, and in Kunsan, Korea from July 1950 to October 1951. He was next assigned to the 777th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron in Klamath, Calif. During this assignment, he received a temporary three-month assignment to Camp Mercury, Nev. It was there that he participated in Operation Tumbler-Snapper, where he witnessed the detonation of eight atomic bombs.

His next orders directed him to the Colonels Group in The Pentagon, where he served as administrative supervisor from 1951 through 1958. In October 1958, he served a two-year tour with the Office of the Air Attaché at the American Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam. Upon completion, he returned to The Pentagon

in November 1960, serving with Intelligence Services until June 1964. He was then selected to serve at the Office of the Air Attaché at the American Embassy at The Hague, Netherlands, until 1967. He served his last military assignment with Detachment 3, OCAMA, at JFK Airport, New York, as an administrative supervisor, a position he held until his retirement.

Following his military retirement in 1968, he began a second career at d’Youville Pavilion (the former Marcotte Nursing Home). He was the director of human resources until 1985, at which time he was promoted to director of support services, overseeing eight departments. He retired from the nursing home in 1993, with 25 years of service.

He enjoyed playing bingo at Foxwoods Resort Casino every month for the past 20 years.

He is survived by two sons, Raymond and his wife, Danielle, of Lewiston, and David and his wife, Kathy, of Auburn; a daughter, Julie Eichner and husband, Shane, of Gorham; six grandchildren, Justin, Jared, Brandon and wife, Charissa, Elizabeth, Cody, and Rebekah; two great-grandchildren, Ava Marie and Kiley; and his ex-wife, Denise (Gagne).