Laconia---Claude Lavoie Richer, 84, of 1480 Old N. Main Street, Unit 2, Laconia, died at the Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, N.H. on Sunday, May 18, 2014.
Mr. Richer, a native of Lefaivre, Ontario, Canada, was born December 22, 1929, the son of the late Leonie (Legault) and Theophile Lavoie.
Mr. Richer graduated from St. Lawrence University, Canton, N.Y., in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. His post graduate studies were at the Universite de Paris and at St. Lawrence University.
Mr. Richer taught high school sciences at Carleton Place, Ontario and Lake Placid, New York and coached varsity skiing at St. Lawrence University. For eight years, he was general manager of Wescott Construction Corp. in Laconia. He founded Concrete Construction in 1968 and was president until 1989.
Mr. Richer served as a director of the Laconia Peoples National Bank and served on the Laconia Planning Board and the Winnipesaukee Watershed Committee.
Mr. Richer was on the Canadian Olympic Ski Team and competed in two Winter Olympics, the 1952 Games in Oslo, Norway in the cross country event and in the 1956 Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in the downhill event. In 1960, he was Coach for the Australian team at Squaw Valley, Calif. He was the Canadian National Cross-Country Champion and National Champion in Olympic style canoeing, winning in 1951, being honored as French Canadian Athlete of the Year and was twice runner up in the U. S. National Cross Country Ski Championship.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Robinson-Richer of Laconia;a daughter, Christine ; two sons, Marc and Brett; four grandchildren, Jagger, River, Cole and Kathryn. In addition to his parents, Mr. Richer was predeceased by his stepfather, Joas Richer, and by a son, John Richer.
There will be no calling hours.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 2:00PM at St. Andre Bessette Parish, Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue, Laconia, N.H.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the New Hampshire Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia, N.H. 03247
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street., Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.