Clement M. Lemire, 90, of Manchester, died November 3, 2013 at his home after a period of declining health.
He was born in Franklin on November 10, 1922 to Nestor and Maria (Lavoie) Lemire. He lived in Franklin, Newington, CT and Manchester for many years.
During World War II he served in the U.S. Marine Corps both as a Drill Sergeant and in the Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier Puget Sound.
Mr. Lemire was the first Recreation Director for the city of Franklin, a position he held until 1956, then he became the first Parks and Recreation Director for the town of Newington, CT, serving for ten years until 1966. In the fall of 1966, he became the first Superintendent of the newly combined Manchester Parks and Recreation Department, serving the city for 29 years until his retirement in 1995.
His work was his passion, always striving to provide the city with every recreational opportunity possible. He received several awards for excellence in his field and was most proud to have Newington be named one of the Lifetime Sports cities of America. He was a member of the National Recreation and Park Association, the New Hampshire Parks and Recreation Association, American Legion Sweeney Post, Knights of Columbus and League of 1000 Men of the Precious Blood.
Clem was devoted to his family and was most happy at all of the family gatherings. He loved his grandchildren and taught most of them to skate and play hockey.
He was married for 60 years to Lillian (Turcotte) Lemire who died in 2010. He was also predeceased by seven siblings, Germaine Carignan, Armand Lemire, Benoit Lemire, Paul Lemire, Henry Lemire, Juliette Lemire and Esther Lemire.
The family includes four sons, Brent Lemire and his wife, Lisa, of Litchfield, Bruce Lemire and his wife, Edie, and Brian Lemire and his wife, Vicki, all of Goffstown and Bradley Lemire and his wife, Bettyann, of Enfield, CT; eight grandchildren, Matthew, Kevin, Ryan, Benjamin, Devin, Stephanie, Brendan and Christina; five great grandchildren, Elijah, Noah, Abby, Madison and Evan; two sisters, Therese Denoncour of Franklin and Jeannette Marcucci of Eastham, MA; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, November 8, 2013 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, St. Francis Way in Litchfield. Committal prayers followed at Mt. Calvary Mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Moore Options for Seniors, 195 McGregor Street, Unit 400, Manchester, NH 03102.