DARTMOUTH, MA… Maurice L. Crotteau, Jr., age 93, of Dartmouth, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital of natural causes on January 20, 2022.
Husband of the late Ethel (Moniz) Crotteau, Maurice was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to the late Maurice L. Crotteau, Sr. and the late Catherine (Meysembourg - Crotteau) Hyland.
In his youth Maurice served his country honorably in the United States Navy. After his Navy career he began his studies of electronics and electronics repair while working odd jobs as a short order cook for Charlies Grill in Middletown, RI and Salve Regina College in Newport, RI. From there he accepted a position with Axel’s TV & Radio Repair in Newport which worked to propel him into a career at Raytheon Submarine Signal Division in Portsmouth, RI. After demonstrating proficiency at circuit board design with Raytheon he was promoted to Manager of the Printed Circuit Design Lab, also in the Portsmouth, RI division. After retiring from Raytheon he was able to redirect his talents and passion to watch and clock repair. He was recognized by the NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) as a Master Watch and Clock Repairman, repairing and restoring thousands of timepieces.
His love for his time spent in the US Navy eventually got the better of him so he volunteered at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA. There he spent years helping to rebuild the Radio Rooms aboard the various retired naval vessels moored there. And when the call came to see if the WWII era diesel generators aboard those vessels could be restarted, after decades, he was right there. Working tirelessly with a team of volunteers they successfully completed their task and again those generators provided power for the ships. For “Maury” it was a labor of love.
Late in life he met the love of his life in Mrs. F. Jeanne Bernier, a widow from the local area. The couple, while never marrying, was inseparable. They built a home together in Dartmouth, traveled the country, participated in many local church and community groups and attended many dinners with the “Tin Can Sailors” group, proving how patient and tolerant Jeanne really was, smiling throughout. But their absolute favorite place to be was together, in their lovely home.
Survivors include: His life partner F. Jeanne Bernier, sons, Maurice L. “Bud” Crotteau III (Jane) of Sandown, NH, Joseph F. Crotteau of Punta Gorda, FL, and Philip M. Crotteau (Karen) of Port Charlotte, FL; step-daughter, Margaret Wells of Portsmouth, RI; brother, Delbert Crotteau (Shirley) of Hutchinson MN; 11 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Maurice was also brother to the late Valencia Crotteau of Rice Lake, Wisconsin.
There will be a private family service. Donations in Maury’s honor may be given to Battleship Cove https://www.battleshipcove.org/donate