Dr. J. Gerald “Gerry” Lamoureux, M.D, 92, of Woonsocket died Thursday evening at Landmark Medical Center with his family at his side after a sudden illness. He was the loving husband for the past 15 years of Gertrude “Trudy” (Lambert) (Rheaume) Lamoureux and he was the husband of the late Laurette H. (Bergeron) Lamoureux who died in 1997.
Born in Woonsocket, he was a son of the late Ovila and Leona (Sylvestre) Lamoureux. He remained a proud lifelong resident of Woonsocket.
Dr. Lamoureux was a graduate of Woonsocket High School, Class of 1938. During WWII he worked at Pratt & Whitney Inc. for six years as part of the war effort after having volunteered to serve but could not serve.
Following the war Dr. Lamoureux continued his education and graduated from Providence College, Class of 1950. He then went on to receive his medical degree from Tufts University Medical School in Boston. In the 1950s he was a general practioner in Woonsocket and delivered thousands of babies. In the late 1950s he returned to Tufts and received an advanced degree in Radiology. Dr. Lamoureux specialized in the field of Radiology during a time when many cutting-edge advancements were made in the discipline throughout the 1960s.
Dr. Lamoureux is the last surviving member of six physicians in Woonsocket who established the former Mercy Hospital as a
Catholic hospital to provide for a second (and at the time much-needed) hospital in the community. Dr. Lamoureux later spearheaded the campaign to raise the funds to relocate Mercy Hospital from its original location on Roberts Street to the new facility at Park Square and oversaw its subsequent dedication in honor of the late Congressman John E. Fogarty.
Dr. Lamoureux was a three-term president of the medical staff at Woonsocket Hospital and served as Chief of Radiology for many years. He declined a number of offers from prestigious hospitals across the country preferring to dedicate himself to serving the people of his beloved hometown in a career spanning over 40 years before retiring in 1993.
Among his numerous civic accomplishments he was the physician of the Woonsocket Police Department for many years and served on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket Housing Authority, and the St. Francis House.
In service to the Church Dr. Lamoureux was a lifelong communicant of Precious Blood Parish, he was a member of the parish finance council, and led the campaign in the year 2000 to enable much needed repairs and improvements to the church and rectory. He is honored at Precious Blood in one of the stained glass windows.
Gerry was a humble man who preferred his philanthropic deeds to be anonymous; he was a supporter of the Fr. Marot CYO Center since its inception, paid for the children’s nursery at St. Anthony Hospital in Cagayan in the Philippines, and contributed to numerous local, state, national and international charities and organizations.
Gerry had a profound sense of pride in his French-Canadian heritage and championed celebrating and preserving the Quebecois language and culture via a number of avenues including over 40 years of membership in Club Richelieu (including 4 terms as president), vice president the French Festival Jubilee Franco-Americain and memberships in the Cercle Laurier, Club Par-X, Lefoyer Club and Club Marquette.
Gerry loved travel and visited many destinations throughout the US, Canada, Europe and other countries. He enjoyed cooking, landscaping, maintaining his home and was an early proponent of following a personal exercise regime that consisted of running several miles each day.
Gerry leaves a legacy as a devoted family man, a dedicated and trusted physician, an active and committed volunteer for his Church and community, a stalwart for his heritage, and a sense of loving and giving to others as he was guided by the beacon of his faith.
In addition his to wife Trudy, he is survived by three sons Jean-Charles Lamoureux (Diane) of North Attleboro, Andre Lamoureux and Marc Lamoureux both of Gilford, NH, two daughters Gisele Lesmerises (William) of Rollinsford, NH and Monique St. Germain (Marc) of Canterbury NH, two stepdaughters Lenore M. Rheaume (Eric White) of Woonsocket, and Yvette Lazdowski (Edward) of Moultonborough, NH. He was the brother of Robert Lamoureux of Woonsocket and the late Marguerite Walker. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 6 great-granddaughters and several nieces and nephews and their families.
His funeral will be Tuesday at 8:45 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave., Woonsocket followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in Precious Blood Church, Carrington Ave., Woonsocket. Burial will follow in St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery, Bellingham. Visiting hours are Sunday from 6-8 pm and Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Precious Blood Parish, 94 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket, RI. 02895.
www.menardfuneralhome.com