BIDDEFORD — Paul Raymond LaRochelle, 63, of Auburn passed away peacefully Sunday, April 29, at St. Andre Nursing Home in Biddeford.
He was born in Lewiston on Sept. 10, 1954, the son of Donald and Anne (Albert) LaRochelle. Paul, the oldest of six, grew up in Lewiston. At a young age, Paul enjoyed exploring the neighborhood and playing near Jepson Brook. In high school he developed a passion for photography and creating his own works of art. During his college years, Paul met Susan Gordon and the two started their journey together, marrying Oct. 12, 1982.
You could often find him taking adventures around L-A in his beloved 1979 RX7, ZZAAPP. He also enjoyed bowling for various clubs, listening to Blondie, leading Boy Scout groups, going to the movies or working on one of his wife’s many science or craft projects.
Paul took after his father and studied civil and structural engineering at the University of Maine, Orono. Having spent many summers during high school and college as a land surveyor at Aliberti, LaRochelle and Hudson, Paul joined the firm full-time in the late ’70s as an engineer-in-training, and went on to become a licensed professional engineer and eventual vice president of LaRochelle and Associates. During his time at the firm Paul worked on many projects, but he was most proud of his work to help renovate and expand the Lewiston Public Library in the mid-’90s. Paul’s designs can be seen all across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and even South Dakota. He was very proud of the work he accomplished.
More recently, Paul worked as a structural engineer at Alliance Construction in Scarborough, then he independently ran and owned LaRochelle Engineering Services, then he moved on to work at Russell and Dawson in Connecticut, POET in South Dakota and most recently at Coastal Engineering in Orleans, Mass., where he very much felt he was part of a family.
Paul is survived by his parents Donald and Anne LaRochelle of Wells; his children Erin Landry and her husband, Seth, of Vienna; Ethan LaRochelle and his wife, Kellie, of West Lebanon, Mew Hampshire; and Elizabeth-Anne LaRochelle of Auburn. He also leaves behind his siblings Gary, Theresa, Jane, Steve and Patti; his grandchildren Teagan, Thatcher and Tyce; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, Susan.
Condolences may be shared with Paul’s family at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.
Paul Raymond LaRochelle
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