Roger L. Bouvier

AUBURN – Roger L. Bouvier, 92, passed away on Monday, June 3, 2024. He was born in Lewiston on Dec. 23, 1931. He attended St. Peter’s Elementary School. Upon graduation he was awarded a scholarship donated by L’Union St. Jean Baptiste which included tuition and board and room for continuing high school and college education. He chose to attend Assumption Preparatory School in Worcester, Mass., from which he graduated in 1949. He continued his college education at Assumption College also in Worcester and graduated in 1953 with a BA degree. Both schools were staffed by priests of the Assumptionist order and Mr. Bouvier formed a lifelong fondness for the education he received at these schools. Having been in the US Army reserve while in college, Mr. Bouvier enlisted in the Army in order to fulfill his military obligation during the Korean War. He was assigned to the William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso, Texas, serving as an entertainment specialist providing recreational opportunities for both returning wounded army personnel and hospital staff during the Korean conflict. Among his duties was responsibility for USO personnel that were sent to provide entertainment to bed ridden and ambulatory patients at this large hospital.

Upon completion of his service obligation, Mr. Bouvier was accepted at the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration in January 1956. While attending classes held in the evening at the Graduate school he worked a full time schedule at an insurance company located on Wall Street thereby starting a 41-year career in the insurance industry. He graduated from NYU with an MBA degree in 1958. He continued employment at various insurance companies in New York City for the next nine years. While working on Wall Street he met and eventually married Eva Louise Seely of Northampton, Mass. He was particularly proud of being married on Sept. 14, 1963, at the church in New York City sponsored by the Assumptionist priests and officiated by one of his Assumption classmates. The marriage was to last 51-and-a-half years.

In January 1965, Roger and Eva returned permanently to Maine, having been recruited by the then Dunlap Insurance Agency. They settled in Auburn and, with Eva being employed as Financial Aid Director at Bates College, Roger started his 23 year career at the Dunlap Agency. His major responsibility was to service and administer insurance coverage programs for large commercial business clients. In 1971 he was transferred to southern New Hampshire to manage a newly purchased large agency for Dunlap. He returned to Dunlap in Auburn in 1978 and established a new concept for insurance agencies which consisted of performing the duties of an insurance company. This new program eventually became one of the largest for agencies countrywide.

In 1987 Mr. Bouvier was employed by UNUM Corp. in Portland where he administered the insurance coverages negotiated and purchased by UNUM for protection of its assets. He retired from UNUM and was later recalled back from retirement to work on a part time basis as his skills were so specialized.

While maintaining his insurance employment for many years, Mr. Bouvier was also involved as a board member of the Auburn Water District serving as its president and then was selected to represent the District as a charter member of the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission including serving as its chairman. Volunteer service for the City of Auburn lasted for some 30 years from 1982 to late 2009 making him perhaps the longest serving citizen in a volunteer capacity for the City of Auburn. Mr. Bouvier enjoyed many activities throughout his adult life in Maine. He and his wife Eva enjoyed their cottage at Great East Lake in Acton, which they owned for 25 years. He was also a member of the Kiwanis and Exchange Clubs also serving both as its president. While involved in these many activities, Mr. Bouvier also had a wealth of interests including woodworking, his favorite hobby, an appreciation of fine art and classical music, a rabid fan of many sports, an interest of current events, both local and national, an unembarrassed opinion of many subjects without being opinionated. For all this continued evolution of life’s many interests, some might have described him as a Renaissance man in some small way.

Roger was predeceased by his dear wife Eva, his brother Vincent and his sister Midge. He leaves his sister in law Karin of Cape Elizabeth, nephew Jeffrey and wife Karin of Exeter, niece Nicole, a prominent physician in New York City and Portsmouth, N.H., longtime friends, Jim Arel and Gerry Laplante, and favorite grand nephews Alexander and Andrew and many cousins and dear friends. He was a resident of Schooner Estates in Auburn.

While a resident of Schooner Estates, Roger renewed his longtime friendly relationship with Patricia Long Cressley who was very helpful with his many interests. Yes, Roger was indeed a renaissance man.

Online condolences and fond memories of Roger may be shared at http://www.albert-burpee.com.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Auburn, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 10 a.m. Committal prayers to follow with Army military honors in the small chapel of the Mausoleum at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Lewiston. 

Arrangements are under the care of Albert & Burpee Funeral Home & Cremation Services 253 Pine St. Lewiston, 782-2701.

Donations may be made to Assumption College Alumni Fund, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcaster, MA 01609-1296.