Obituary for Raymond Pelletier
RAYMOND JOSEPH PELLETIER
November 2, 1942 – May 15, 2023
Raymond Joseph Pelletier, 80, of Hampden, ME, passed away in his sleep on Monday, May 15, 2023. Ray was born in Berlin, NH, the son of Alfred and Sadie (Girard) Pelletier, and grew up in a vibrant Franco-American household.
Ray was kind and loving, genuinely interested in people, and especially adept at seeing the best in them. He always greeted students, fellow educators, neighbors, and friends with a broad smile, a ready laugh, and an excitement to communicate and connect. Ray had a natural talent for cultivating meaningful relationships, both in his roles in education and in his private life. He was a devoted family man who cared deeply for his children and would let anyone know how proud he was of them.
Ray obtained an A.B. in Modern Languages from Providence College, an M.A. in French from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in French from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Ray joined the University of Maine faculty in 1979 as Assistant Professor of Education and Canadian Studies and Cooperating Assistant Professor of French. He was an integral member of the UMaine community for over thirty years and was celebrated for his contributions to the fields of Modern Languages, French, Francophone
Cultures, and Canadian Studies. In 2009, Ray received the Richard Williamson Award for Leadership in Modern and Classical Languages, a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the Foreign Language Association of Maine (FLAME), for his innovation and excellence in education and the promotion of French throughout New England. He most recently served UMaine as Associate Director of the Canadian-American Center and Emeritus Professor of French. Ray’s commitment to teaching lives on in the many students he inspired to become teachers themselves.
Ray was a member of UMaine men’s choral group, an unwavering fan of UMaine Women’s Basketball, and a patron of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Ray was an avid chef who loved to share his passion for culinary arts by cooking for friends, family, neighbors, and students.
Ray remained active in education in retirement by helping advance language programs at the Chinese Language and Culture Center of Bangor and serving on the faculty of the Bangor Chinese School.
As a first generation college graduate, Ray recognized the importance of education and was incredibly proud of his two children who both went on to obtain law degrees. Nick is an attorney at Sinclair Braun Kargher LLP and Eric is a Vice President at Goldman Sachs.
Ray was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Sadie Pelletier; and siblings, Dick and Norman Pelletier, Irene Bowdoin, and Doris Sylvestre.
He is survived by his children, Nick Pelletier of Kennebunk, ME and Eric Pelletier of New York, NY; his former spouse, Cheryl (Stanton) Pelletier of Bangor, ME; brothers, Gary and Bob Pelletier; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews, including Mark, Peter, and Craig Sylvestre, and Jody Lariviere; and his faithful dog, Max.
Gifts in Ray’s memory may be made to the Raymond J. Pelletier Scholarship, payable to the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469-5792, or at https://securelb.imodules.com/s/300/13-ORONO/foundation/index-social.aspx?sid=300&gid=13&pgid=748&cid=1912&dids=2902&sort=1&bledit=1&appealcode=O7095
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. at the University of Maine Buchanan Alumni House, 160 College Avenue, Orono, Maine. All are invited.
https://my.gather.app/remember/raymond-pelletier-may-2023
November 2, 1942 – May 15, 2023
Raymond Joseph Pelletier, 80, of Hampden, ME, passed away in his sleep on Monday, May 15, 2023. Ray was born in Berlin, NH, the son of Alfred and Sadie (Girard) Pelletier, and grew up in a vibrant Franco-American household.
Ray was kind and loving, genuinely interested in people, and especially adept at seeing the best in them. He always greeted students, fellow educators, neighbors, and friends with a broad smile, a ready laugh, and an excitement to communicate and connect. Ray had a natural talent for cultivating meaningful relationships, both in his roles in education and in his private life. He was a devoted family man who cared deeply for his children and would let anyone know how proud he was of them.
Ray obtained an A.B. in Modern Languages from Providence College, an M.A. in French from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in French from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Ray joined the University of Maine faculty in 1979 as Assistant Professor of Education and Canadian Studies and Cooperating Assistant Professor of French. He was an integral member of the UMaine community for over thirty years and was celebrated for his contributions to the fields of Modern Languages, French, Francophone
Cultures, and Canadian Studies. In 2009, Ray received the Richard Williamson Award for Leadership in Modern and Classical Languages, a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the Foreign Language Association of Maine (FLAME), for his innovation and excellence in education and the promotion of French throughout New England. He most recently served UMaine as Associate Director of the Canadian-American Center and Emeritus Professor of French. Ray’s commitment to teaching lives on in the many students he inspired to become teachers themselves.
Ray was a member of UMaine men’s choral group, an unwavering fan of UMaine Women’s Basketball, and a patron of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Ray was an avid chef who loved to share his passion for culinary arts by cooking for friends, family, neighbors, and students.
Ray remained active in education in retirement by helping advance language programs at the Chinese Language and Culture Center of Bangor and serving on the faculty of the Bangor Chinese School.
As a first generation college graduate, Ray recognized the importance of education and was incredibly proud of his two children who both went on to obtain law degrees. Nick is an attorney at Sinclair Braun Kargher LLP and Eric is a Vice President at Goldman Sachs.
Ray was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Sadie Pelletier; and siblings, Dick and Norman Pelletier, Irene Bowdoin, and Doris Sylvestre.
He is survived by his children, Nick Pelletier of Kennebunk, ME and Eric Pelletier of New York, NY; his former spouse, Cheryl (Stanton) Pelletier of Bangor, ME; brothers, Gary and Bob Pelletier; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews, including Mark, Peter, and Craig Sylvestre, and Jody Lariviere; and his faithful dog, Max.
Gifts in Ray’s memory may be made to the Raymond J. Pelletier Scholarship, payable to the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469-5792, or at https://securelb.imodules.com/s/300/13-ORONO/foundation/index-social.aspx?sid=300&gid=13&pgid=748&cid=1912&dids=2902&sort=1&bledit=1&appealcode=O7095
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. at the University of Maine Buchanan Alumni House, 160 College Avenue, Orono, Maine. All are invited.
https://my.gather.app/remember/raymond-pelletier-may-2023