PORTLAND- Michael John Constantine Sr, 75, passed away peacefully May 25, 2023, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine after fighting health issues and cancer for many months.
He was born in Augusta, Maine on October 1, 1948. He grew up in Cape Elizabeth and as a teenager very excitedly joined the Cape Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department. He also worked for the Cape Highway Department where he loved operating the old Galion grader. He loved plowing snow but that was no match for his passion for the fire service. In February 1972, he started as a firefighter for the Portland Fire Department where he served that city for 21 years. The fire service was his passion through and through, he lived and breathed the Portland Fire Department. His badge number 117 was proudly placed on almost everything in sight and to this day lives on with his family as Ret #117. In the early 80’s he and good friend Rick Sweetser purchased their first dump truck together (an old GMC town truck) which began the journey of their company Portland Motor Trucking. With help from family they grew that company to be well known around southern Maine with their signature beautiful red cabed Autocar trucks and green dump bodies. Years later Michael sold his shares of the company and retired from Portland FD in November 1993. Soon after he went to work for the Maine Turnpike where he proudly worked at Crosby Maintenance for 10 years. He loved plowing lefty, as he called it, until he had heart surgery that due to some complications ended his working career. That compounded with the death of his youngest daughter Lynne and losing his second wife Barbara to cancer began his long struggle with depression and anxiety. Through all the sadness he still took great joy in hearing the stories of what his children, Michael, Jen, and Carrie were doing. He also loved the grandchildren stories and what they were doing. Nothing made him prouder than hearing what all of us had going on.
Michael is survived by his son Michael Constantine Jr. and his wife Tina of Windham, daughter Jennifer Genovese and husband Jerry of Windham, daughter Carrie Constantine Walker of Gray, grandsons Andrew Constantine and Nathanial Walker, and granddaughters Carli Genovese and Abby Constantine.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday June 3rd from 4-6 PM at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt. 22) in Buxton. Burial will be held for family and close family friends at Forest City Cemetery at a later date. Online condolence messages can be submitted at the funeral home website, www.mainefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Hospice of Southern Maine, 390 US Rte 1 Scarborough, Maine 04074 for their support and comfort of Michael in his final days.