Fernand "Fred" Bolduc

Mr. Fernand Bolduc, 83, of Willimantic, CT, died June 20,2011 at home from complications following a two year struggle with cancer. Mr. Bolduc was born on August 27, 1927 in Lewiston, ME, the son of Angeline and Adalard Bolduc. He was raised in Bath, ME by Frank and Rita Durant with foster brothers Andrew Long and Gene Libby and foster sisters Edna Mank, Cora Pennell, Mary Mathews, and Audrey Trafton. Fred Bolduc quit high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 16. He served onboard USS Vincennes (CA-44) as a Seaman First Class in the Pacific during World War II, where he fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. Following the war, Mr. Bolduc returned to Maine and completed high school. He worked at the Bath Iron Works while continuing his education at the University of Maine getting a Masters in Education. In 1949 he married Constance Staples of Bath, ME, his wife of 62 years, and raised 4 sons. Beginning in 1965, Mr. Bolduc worked in the Windham and Tolland school systems as a middle school science teacher. By the time he retired in 1987, over 6000 middle school students had completed Mr. Bolduc's science class. He was a coach for the football and basketball teams at Windham High School from 1965 until 1968. He coached during Windham's undefeated 10-0 season of 1968. He was also a football and basketball coach for Windham Tech, leading the 1969 basketball team to tournament play for the first time in 18 years. Mr. Bolduc was a life-long golfer and spent much of his leisure time improving his golf score at Willimantic Country Club. He took great joy in watching his children and grandchildren grow to adults. Mr. Bolduc is survived by his wife, Constance, of Willimantic; four sons, Stephen Bolduc and his wife Katie of Bangor, ME, Kenneth Bolduc and Tomoko Aoba of Secaucus, NJ, Peter Bolduc of North Port, FL/Windham, CT and his wife Lisa, Frederick Bolduc of Hereford, AZ and his wife Ellen; and seven grandchildren: Mikaela, Brenna, Andrew, Patrick, Gregory, Nicole and Valarian. There are no calling hours. A Memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday June 24th at 12:00pm at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St. Willimantic. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to University of Maine, Class of 1952 Scholarship Fund, Office of University Development,101 College Ave.,Orono, ME 04469. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .