E. Philip St. Pierre, the charismatic Lewiston businessman who owned Victor News for decades, has died. He was 86 and had been ill.

St. Pierre was born in Lewiston in 1922 and started working as a clerk at Victor News, his uncle’s store, when he was 13. St. Pierre was slated to take over the downtown Lewiston store, but in 1942, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the Marines instead.

“His uncle tried to talk him out of it, tried to get him to stay. But he was duty-bound and determined to serve his country,” said his son, Philip St. Pierre.

St. Pierre served as a front-line gunner and mortar man and participated in major campaigns during World War II, including The Battle of Iwo Jima, his family said. In 1946, after his discharge from the service, St. Pierre married Rita M. Michaud and returned to the store. He eventually took over ownership.

It was work that St. Pierre loved.

“He enjoyed seeing the same customers every day and getting to know them all by name. He really had that charisma and touch that encouraged people to keep coming back,” Philip St. Pierre said.

With the-customer’s-always-right attitude and a sixth sense about what would sell (he was among the first to carry greeting cards and one of the few to sell French music, literature and newspapers), St. Pierre made Victor News one of the most popular businesses in the area. In the 1960s, he opened a second store on Lisbon Street.

For decades, St. Pierre juggled the business and a family. The father of five, he always made time for his children, whether that meant gathering the family for a camping trip or involving them in the family business.

“He was never boring,” said his daughter, Gloria Vallieres. “He just loved to do things and he included us with him.”

All five of the St. Pierre children worked at Victor News at one time or another. When St. Pierre retired in 1984 at age 62, son Philip St. Pierre took over the downtown store.

“He was loved by his customers. I still have customers who come in today and ask ‘How’s your dad doing?'” Philip St. Pierre said.

The Lisbon Street store was sold to a longtime employee.

Although Victor News had been such a large part of his life, St. Pierre enjoyed retirement. He volunteered with SCORE, serving as a mentor to new businesspeople. He also spent a lot of time on woodworking and carpentry projects, with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoying the outdoors.

“He always tried to make time for fishing,” said son Gerard St. Pierre.

Still, Victor News never strayed far from his thoughts.

“It didn’t make any difference when I saw him or how many times I saw him – I could see him twice in a day – and he would still lead with ‘How are things at the store?'” Philip St. Pierre said.

St. Pierre’s wife died in 2006. They had been married for 60 years. St. Pierre had been living at the Clover Independent Living Center in Auburn since 2005. He moved to Hospice House in Auburn a week ago.

A memorial mass for St. Pierre will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday St. Patrick’s Church in Lewiston. Committal with military honors to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice Foundation, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME 04210.