J. Arthur Poitras, Jr., 88, of Lowell, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at Lowell General Hospital with his family by his side. Arthur was the widower of the late Nancy M. (Dearborn) Poitras who passed away in April of 1985.
Arthur was born on August 3, 1936, the son of the late J. Arthur Poitras, Sr., and the late Katherine (Martin) Poitras. He was raised and educated in Chelmsford and was a graduate of Chelmsford High School with the Class of 1954. He studied at Merrimack College for a time before enlisting in the United States Air Force Reserves, in which he served his country during the time of the Cuban missile crisis.
Arthur was well known in Lowell and is most known for his stewardship of The Poitras Family shoe business, which is a 100+ year old family owned and operated shoe business which has been located on Chelmsford Street in Lowell for the last 32 years. As the last caretaker of the last cobbler shop in Lowell, which was started by his grandfather, Joseph Ernest Poitras in 1912, he specialized in orthotics and shoe repair. He continued to work in the shoppe until just prior to his passing. Throughout his life, Arthur went above and beyond to help anyone who needed his help or services, even making house calls to nursing homes and other facilities. If someone needed his help, Arthur would be there, always putting the needs of others ahead of his own. In addition to saving “soles” he enjoyed collecting cars.
Arthur was also a devout catholic who dedicated many years of his life to the Catholic Church. Over the years he was a parishioner of St. Marguerite D’Youville Church (the former St. Theresa’s Church), St. Margaret of Scotland Church and most recently, St. Joseph The Worker Shrine. He was an active lector and acolyte/alter server throughout his adult life and also taught CCD for over 30 years. Arthur was a unique man whose life was dedicated to the service of others and he will be missed by all who knew him.
Arthur is survived by his two sons, J. Arthur Poitras, III and his spouse, Leslie, of Dracut, and David Poitras and his spouse, Pascale, of Palos Verdes, California, his 3 grandchildren, Timothy Poitras of Dracut, Yolande Poitras of Los Angeles and Chantal Poitras of Austin, Texas, his sisters Melanie Buccola of Port Orange, Florida and Denise Dodge of North Carolina, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Roberta and Richard Desjardins of Nashua, NH, his nephew John O’Neal and his wife Dawn and son Jay of Merrimack, NH and his nephew Bradley Desjardins of Nashua, NH.
In addition to his wife Nancy and his parents, Arthur was also predeceased by Dorothea Fleming and Florence Shanahan, who both held a special place in his heart, along with their families.
On Tuesday, January 14, all are welcome to attend his visitation and Funeral Mass. His visitation will take place from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA.
His Funeral Mass will be offered at 12 p.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 374 Stevens Street, Lowell, MA.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:
St. Joseph the Worker Shrine, 37 Lee St., Lowell, MA. 01852
or to:
Oblate Infirmary and Retirement Home, 486 Chandler Street, Tewksbury MA. 01876