LEWISTON — Harvey J. Proulx, MD, 92, of Lewiston, passed away March 11 with his wife by his side. He had been in a slow decline from Alzheimer’s disease for the last 12 years.
He was born in Springvale on Dec. 20, 1924, and grew up in nearby Sanford. He was the third child in a devoutly Catholic family of eight children. Despite their meager financial means, education was highly regarded, and Harvey was sent to boarding school in St. Hyacinth, PQ, Canada, where he received a classical education among the priests and brothers. He was a student there for both high school and college, and then entered medical school at the University of Montreal after a year of postgraduate science coursework.
During his time as a medical student, Harvey met, fell in love with, and married his hometown sweetheart, Jacqueline Watier. Together, they forged a strong union that lasted more than 65 years.
Dr. Proulx served his internship as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, and was stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in Morocco as well as other posts stateside. At the end of his service, he enrolled in a residency program at the Eye and Ear Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was part of the last cohort of physicians to be trained in both specialties.
In 1958, he moved to Lewiston, where he opened his solo practice specializing in ear, nose, and throat medicine and surgery. During his career, Dr. Proulx, a member of the Maine Medical Association, served on the staff of St. Mary’s General Hospital (SMGH), as well as the courtesy staff of Central Maine Medical Center. He served at various times as SMGH’s chief of staff and chief of the Tissue (Surgical Case Review) Committee. In these roles, he was well-respected as a leader using a gentle, kind approach that was most effective and modeled behavior that embraced the mission and values of the staff and committee.
Dr. Proulx was a caring physician, who treated patients respectfully, shared time in free clinics, and was also known to occasionally barter for services. As a devoted husband and father, Dr. Proulx treated his family with love and respect. From spending time helping his children with lessons after dinner, to modeling ethical behavior, Dr. Proulx was an excellent example of what constitutes a successful life. He had a keen sense of humor and a joie de vivre, enjoying time with friends and family. He was an optimist and a calming influence to all around him. He had many interests, including skiing, tennis, golf and music, and he enjoyed tinkering around his beloved Thompson Lake camp.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Watier Proulx; his sisters, Eva Proulx of Lewiston and Sr. Therese Proulx of Marlborough, Mass.; his children, Pamela Proulx-Curry of Hermon (husband, Robert Curry), Francis Proulx of Hebron (wife, Vivian), Monique Proulx Curtis of Freeport (husband, Peter), Patricia Proulx-Lough of Portland (husband, Alastair Lough), Charles Proulx of Hebron (wife, Elise), Suzanne Proulx of Gorham (husband, Daniel Schneider); 15 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion who gave such loving care not only to our loved one, but to the whole family.
