Joseph A. Deschaine

DEDHAM—Joseph A. Deschaine, 70, died in a car accident April 21, 2016, in Plymouth, ME. Having participated in the Cursillo Movement, he is now living his Fifth Day. He was born January 5, 1946 in Keegan, ME, the son of Francis Xavier & Leona Gagnon.
Joe graduated from Van Buren HS in ’64 & UMPI in ’74 with a BS in Health, PE & Recreation. Joe was a Captain in the U.S. Army & served in the Vietnam War from ’67-’70. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service.
Joe married the love of his life, Monique Ouellette, in ’77 & has five beautiful children: Matt, Nate and his fiancée Renée Daigle, Stephanie and her husband Ryan Smith, Michael & Jonathan.
Joseph was an educator at Wisdom HS from ’74-’99. During his tenure, he coached a variety of sports including Boys’/Girls’ X-Country, Varsity Basketball, Pee-Wee Basketball, Badminton & Volleyball; Girls’ Soccer, Softball and Boys’ Baseball. He was also an advocate for Title IX funding for Girls’ Sports for the State of Maine.
After Wisdom, Joe served as Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at John Bapst HS under Bob Cimbollek. He also coached Farm League, Little League, Jr. League & Sr. League Baseball, as well as Pee-Wee Basketball for the Holbrook Rec. program & later he coached Dedham Baseball to an undefeated season.
He developed the Pee-Wee Basketball and “Just Say NO” programs in MSAD33 through the Optimist Club, as well as starting Open Gym for area youth.
He was an active member of the American Legion, Post 145, in Frenchville, ME and a parishioner of St. John’s Catholic Church in Bangor.
Joe enjoyed fishing, cribbage, music, dancing, ping-pong & going out to eat with his lovely wife. Though surrounded by Red Sox fans, he loved his New York Yankees & proudly showed it in the hats and shirts he wore. He used his God-given gifts & talents to spread good throughout the world. Most of all, he enjoyed nothing more than to coach and watch his own children play sports.
He wore many hats. As a Teacher, he developed “Awesome,” a board game to help youngsters develop math skills. As a Coach, he wrote and published several books and booklets for high schoolers to develop their basketball skills. As a Governmental Employee at the USPS in Hampden, he touched the lives of his fellow employees he considered friends. As a Veteran, he cared deeply for his fellow vets, and wrote “Book of Jon” in an effort to create awareness for those who risked their lives for their country. As a Woodworker, he enjoyed building high quality cedar furniture at affordable prices so that many could appreciate the beauty of his craft. He was a member of the American Veterans Arts & Crafts Art Gallery and a proud contributor to various area co-ops & nurseries, including the Pemaquid Craft Co-Op, the Waldo County Crafts Co-Op & Mainescape Garden Center of Blue Hill.
Joe was a selfless humanitarian; he believed in helping people in need, and this was displayed through his generosity and random acts of kindness. Whether he was picking up a hitchhiker, donating food to the Bangor Homeless Shelter, or providing a Thanksgiving meal to Manna, he practiced what he preached. He was truly a testament to his favorite bible verse, Peter 4:10, “Put your gifts in service of one another, each in the measure received.”
As his former students & players can attest, he helped them gain confidence not only in sport, but more importantly, in life. As his creed states, “The Heart Of A Champion Possesses A Special Chamber That Keeps Saying, ‘Don’t Quit. Just Don’t Quit’.”
In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his half siblings: Eva Martin, Lina Martin, Corinne Wade, Oswald, Adrien, Gilbert, Omer, Leo, Guy & Joseph Simon, father-in-law Jean Paul Ouellette & brother-in-law Reggie Thibeault.
Surviving in addition to his wife and children is his mother-in-law Odette Ouellette, his sisters: Armande & Reynold “Babe” Pelletier, Merilda & David Plourde, Martha & Stephen Hammond & Marianne Deschaines; brothers: Paul & Patti Deschaine, Jim & Beverly Deschaines, John & Lisa Deschaine & sister-in-law Simone Deschaine; brothers-in-law: Ti-Jean, Fr. Richard, Michael and his wife Lynda & Guy and his wife Francine; sisters-in-law Rita Thibeault and Marie & Marvin Ring; many cousins, numerous nieces & nephews, including Godchildren: Kim Hammond, Chantal Ouellette, Adam Ouellette, John Hammond & Melinda Schlick. He also leaves behind countless friends, teachers, coaches & colleagues.

Relatives and friends are invited to call 5-7 pm. Tuesday April 26, 2016 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St. Bangor, and 9-10:30 am. Wednesday, April 27, 2016, followed by a Funeral Mass to be held 11 am. at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St., Bangor with the Rev. Richard Ouellette, brother-in-law, and the Rev. Timothy Nadeau, concelebrants.
Interment with military honors will be held at Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Augusta, at a later date.
Gifts in his memory may be sent to the Deschaine family, and his children will donate to Veteran’s organizations of their choice, C/O Monique Deschaine, 38 Peakes Hill Rd., Dedham, ME. 04429.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com