PORTLAND – Richard William Carbonneau, Sr., Colonel, US Army Reserves, 89, died with his loving family by his side in Portland on Jan. 12, 2019.

 

He was born in Detroit on July 13, 1929, the son of Wilfred Carbonneau and the former Jane Fournier, and the loving grandson of Nellie Carbonneau who helped to raise him. Dick grew up in Lewiston where he attended St. Patrick’s Grammar School and Lewiston High School before enlisting in the Army at age 17.

He married the love of his life, Annette Martel, in Biddeford, on Feb. 3, 1951. The couple raised nine children, Richard Jr., Kathleen, Suzanne, William, Eileen, Dolores, Annette, Charles, and Patricia. He was grandfather to 13; and great-grandfather to two. The family has lived in Washington, DC; Silver Spring, MD; Rockville, MD; Lewiston, ME; Saco, ME; Lexington, MA; New Carrollton, MD; N. Ft. Myers, FL; Old Orchard Beach, ME; and Portland, ME.

Carbonneau served in the Philippines in World War II in the US Army Air Corps, and in the United States Air Force in the Berlin Airlift. He also was recalled to service during the Korean War. Upon retirement from active duty, he entered the US Army Reserves, where he served with medical service units. His last assignment was with the Pentagon, Surgeon General’s Office as an Army Psychologist engaged in combat stress research. He retired from the military in 1984 after 38 years of combined active duty and reserve service.

In civilian life, Dick continued in government service in a wide variety of capacities: he was an Investigator with the Crime Lab of the United States Postal Investigative Service; Chief Civilian Medical Planner in the Army Surgeon General’s Office; Executive Director of the Model Cities Program in Lewiston, ME; the Director of the Maine Law Enforcement Planning and Assistance Agency; the Executive Director of the Maine Commission on Drug Abuse; and Programs Manager with the Air Force Systems Command Productivity Enhancement Program at Andrews Air Force Base.

Non-governmental employment included posts as Deputy Director of York County Counseling Services in Saco, ME; and Executive Director of Mystic Valley Mental Health Center Association in Lexington, MA. He was also a private business owner in Lewiston, ME. After retiring from full-time employment, he taught at St. Joseph’s College External Degree Programs in Windham, ME.

Education was a life-long pursuit: He earned a BA and MBA from Southeastern University, and an EdD from Sarasota University, as well as certifications from the US Army Command and General Staff College; from Harvard Medical School; and from the Air War College; among scores of other certifications.

He was a proud member of the American Legion, and he served his community whenever he was needed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph Church in Biddeford, where he married Annette 68 years ago. Internment with Military Honors will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in the spring. Friends may call Saturday (TOMORROW) from 9-10:30 at Cote Funeral Home, 87 James St., Saco, ME 04072, (207) 284-4464.

In lieu of flowers,

the family would prefer memorial contributions

be made to:

Rick Carbonneau

Scholarship

University of

Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104

(207) 780-4741

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