AUBURN – Former business owner and Lewiston Police and Fire Commissioner Henry G. “Guy” Nadeau, 93, passed away at Clover Health Care in Auburn on May 29, 2021, surrounded by family members.

Known later in life as “Henry” to the many healthcare providers and caretakers that interacted with him, the individual known to all as “Guy” for most of his life struggled over the last year with the isolation of being quarantined. The inability to have personal contact with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was difficult for both he and our entire family. In the end, he fought on long enough to spend some personal time with those he loved before passing on to be with his beloved wife, Jacqueline.

Guy was born in Lewiston on June 17, 1927, as the fourth youngest son of Georges and Imelda Beaudoin Nadeau from Lewiston, Maine (formerly of St. Ephrem), and was one of seven siblings. Guy was also the first child to be born in the United States. Except for the move to Clover in 2017, Guy and Jackie lived in Lewiston their entire lives.

A graduate of St. Dominic’s High School, Guy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 serving as a Boatswain’s Mate on the USS Key DE-348 and shipped out of the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines in August 1945 as part of the end-of-war operations in the Pacific. His brother, Yves Nadeau, also served in the Pacific aboard the USS Virgo AKA-20 which earned seven battle that included the October 1944 Leyte Gulf battle. His brothers, Jean Paul and Joseph, also served in World War II.

After returning from his military service, Guy worked in the family business, Nadeau’s Market, and married Jacqueline “Jackie” McCarthy on Aug. 16, 1949, at St. Peters and Paul Church, Lewiston. In the early 1950s, he would start up Friends Catering operating out of his parents’ store. Friends (banquet) Hall would soon open and operate out of Friends Restaurant (later to become the Derby A.A.) located on the ground floor and owned by brother, Yves (“Babe”) on Walnut Street.

Beginning in the 1950s, Guy was also a civic and political leader having served as a Lewiston Democratic City Committee Chairman, part of Ed Muskie’s Androscoggin County gubernatorial re-election effort in 1956, and served as a delegate to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago where Muskie became the Democratic nominee for Vice-President of the United States. He would be appointed to the City of Lewiston Fire Commission in the late 1950’s and the Police Commission in the early 1960’s. In 1969, he purchased the Nadeau’s Market building and expanded Friends Catering and Friends Hall to include Friends Deli on Bartlett Street in 1970. The deli was destroyed by an historic fire displacing almost 50 people and fought by some 150 firefighters in February 1989.

Guy would continue to work a nearly full-time schedule for his good friend, Paul Landry and Landry’s Quick-Stop in Greene, until he was 80 years old. His decision to retire would allow him to become the full-time caretaker for his beloved Jackie. On Dec. 16, 2018, he would lose Jackie to her courageous battle with Alzheimer’s, a disease that she fought for 15 years.

Retirement would also allow Guy (“Papas”) the time to enjoy his time with Jackie (“Mema”) and the family, particularly his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also loved to read, stay abreast of current events, putter in and around the house, and engage with anyone who wanted to discuss politics; particularly if it involved someone with whom he did not agree politically.

He is survived by four children: Philippe Nadeau and wife Marcia of Florida; Gregory Nadeau and wife Diane of Lewiston, Monique Gagne and husband Eugene (Geno) of Greene; Michelle Roberts and husband David of Lewiston; and sister, Claudette Sirois and husband, Dr. Raymond Sirois, of Auburn and his eight grandchildren: Anthony Nadeau, Christie Albee, Jessica Ouellette, Jenna Roberts, Nicholas Nadeau, Chelsey Dugal, Alex Marston and Kathryn McAuliffe, and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Jacqueline; his parents, Georges and Imelda Nadeau; brother, Dr. Jean Paul (“JP”) Nadeau, and sister-in-law, Pauline; sister, Gertrude Tremblay, and brother-in- law, Ambassador Paul Tremblay; brother, Yves “Babe” Nadeau, and sister-in-law, Lucia (“Lou”), former sister-in-law, Marcelle (“Doogie”); brother, Joseph Nadeau, and sister-in-law, Germaine; and sister, Dolores Moore, and brothers-in-law, George Bouffard and Sam Moore.

The family wishes to thank the “staff of angels” at Clover Manor, who provided “Henry” with compassionate care since his arrival there with “Jackie.” Also, special thanks to Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice for their extra special care.

Visiting hours will take place from 3-7 p.m., Monday, June 21, 2021, at Pinette Dillingham and Lynch Funeral Home at 305 Alfred Plourde Pkwy in Lewiston.

A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross Church on Monday Aug. 16, 2021, at 11 a.m. Committal prayers will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery Chapel concluding with U.S. Naval military honors.

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



In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Martin De Porres Shelter at 23 Bartlett Street in Lewiston.



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