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1924 Bertrand 2021

Bertrand R. Vaillancourt

April 15, 1924 — June 18, 2021

Bertrand Vaillancourt Obituary
Bertrand R. Vaillancourt, 97, of Hampton CT, passed away on June 18, 2021. He was born in Manchester, NH to Edmund and Maria (St. Louis) Vaillancourt. Later the family moved to Willimantic, working at The American Thread Co. “Bert”, as everyone knew him, died peacefully surrounded by his family after a short illness. He was married to Patricia O. Allain (predeceased) for 43 years. They raised two children, Brian and Paula.  Bert was the eldest of four children, two sisters, and a brother, all predeceased.

A Master barber by trade, Bert owned Sportsman’s Barber Shop in Willimantic for many years. The shop was a combination barber shop and retail fishing-hunting supply. He was a lifelong member of the Willimantic Elks, some 65 plus years. Bert also spoke fluent Canadian French and in retirement years studied European French at ECSU and UCONN.

He had many passions and hobbies, and as he said, “I always got wrapped up in each and every one”.  In the mid 60’s, he took up photography, had all the equipment and turned the bathroom into a darkroom, much to his wife’s dismay. He loved music and the violin, and at age 10 began taking lessons.  In later years, he was a violinist in the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and the Willimantic Symphony Orchestra.  He and his brother Eddy had a passion for flying RC model airplanes, building them out of balsa wood and flying them in a field at Mansfield Hollow.  Bert loved camping and hiking in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, and over the years he and his family climbed 19 mountains, including Mt. Washington.  He and his wife Pat traveled extensively throughout the US, Canada and Europe.  Bert was a master storyteller, and if you were with him long enough, you heard them all many times.  During WWII and beyond he was a Staff Sargent and Platoon Leader in the 43rd division of the National Guard and became a rifle marksman.  He was extremely knowledgeable in military aircraft, guns & world history, especially WWI and WWII.  Target and skeet shooting in the back yard with the ‘guys’ was another one of his passions and over the years he also belonged to many local outdoor shooting clubs.  Bert was also an expert fly fisherman and over the years caught many trout in the Natchaug River.

Bert is survived by his son Brian Vaillancourt, and wife Carolyn of Massachusetts; daughter Paula Adams and husband Robert of Lisbon; Grandchildren Bryan Adams, Sara Adams Benicak, Paul Vaillancourt and Julia Vaillancourt, plus countless family and friends.  He lived in his beloved Hampton for 58 years and built many lasting relationships. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; and their infant son, Alan.

Bert’s family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. Willimantic. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, June 25, 2021 at 12:00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 41 Cedar Swamp Rd. Hampton, with burial to follow at South Hampton Cemetery, Hampton, CT.

For an online memorial guestbook please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .




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