Joseph Normand Lessard

1935-2025

CAPE ELIZABETH--Joseph Normand Lessard, of Cape Elizabeth and Carrabassett Valley, died peacefully on Sunday, February 23, just 6 days after celebrating his 90th birthday.

The second son of loving, French-Canadian immigrants, Joe was born and raised in Rumford, between the paper mill and the slopes of Black Mountain. A gifted athlete, Joe excelled in track & field, football, and downhill skiing. At the age of 6, he encountered his first ski jump: a hand-packed snow ramp located at the end of Spruce St. Each winter, "Pete's Jump" would be rebuilt, maintained, and enjoyed by neighborhood kids.  The thrill of the sequence, Take-off --- Flight --- Landing seeped into his young bones. With lots of practice and coaching his technique caught up with the thrill of being airborne. Several years later, while a student at the University of Maine, Orono, Joe was named New England's NCAA Ski Jumping Champion.

Athleticism and a penchant for outdoor adventure first led Joe to Carrabassett Valley. In 1951, while on Rumford's High School Ski Team, he and a few friends heard about the first established trail on Sugarloaf Mountain. At that time, there was no access road. The teens parked their car on Route 27, hiked through snow to the base of the mountain, then up to the summit.  All that effort afforded the boys just one run down Winter's Way before they had to return to Rumford. One trail, one run.

Once was enough. Enchantment seeped into Joe's teenage bones. Over time, his love of Sugarloaf Mountain deepened. It was an affair that lasted a lifetime.

During the Korean war, Joe enlisted in the Army. He was fortunate to find himself stationed in Garmish, Germany, where he served on ski patrol. His ski jumping adventures continued abroad.

After college, Joe married Judy Ward, who he met at UMO. The couple launched their respective careers in education before welcoming the first of four daughters and moving to Cape Elizabeth. Joe taught French and History. Later, he was a school principal before moving into Consulting at the Dept of Education.  The bonds of college friendships remained strong. Families went camping and skiing together; they attended Homecoming every fall. He also formed strong friendships in Cape Elizabeth.

In 1960, Joe and Judy purchased a one-room camp (with a pull-down ladder sleeping loft), on Spring Farm Road, in Carrabassett Valley (then named Jerusalem) and Joe joined Sugarloaf's ski patrol. For many years, the camp was the secondary backdrop of family life – though not only during the ski season. The area offered bountiful, year-round opportunities to explore the rugged landscape. From hunting and fishing, to hiking, swimming and skiing, Joe made movement in nature exciting and fun. The girls all learned to ski when they were knee-high. With their father leading the way, they braved the icy-cold river waters that pooled in deep swimming holes and swirled in shallow ribbons around prehistoric rocks.  For years, Sasquatch sightings were fabricated (purely for his own entertainment). He knew his way around woods and waterways. He knew where to spot moose, where to flyfish. He was energized by nature's embrace. Joe instilled in his daughters a sense of connection to the outdoors that seeped into their bones.

As Sugarloaf was undergoing development, Carrabassett Valley attracted many wonderful, interesting people. Being an extrovert, the population boom (which included a few college friends) was a win for Joe.  To him, the social life was as accessible and energizing as the environment. And they almost always overlapped. Most of his stories featured friends and outdoor experiences in equal parts. He loved people. He loved to have a good time and didn't shy away for a little mischief – or dirt. One of his favorite memories involved Sugarloaf's first Mud Bowl. Joe's sense of humor, curiosity, intelligence, warmth, sharp memory, and astonishing knowledge about an array of topics made him a fantastic conversationalist. A community was formed. It was among the friends and acquaintances of CV that a true sense of belonging seeped into his bones.

In 1976, having long outgrown the one room camp, plans for an addition were put to paper, then actualized. With basic tools, a few smart friends, and plenty of cold beer, Joe pulled out a couple of Sears & Roebuck "How To…" guides ($1.59 each!) and the project commenced. It wasn't the last addition the crew worked on; there was always a camp in need. Carpenter apron, saw dust and a pencil behind the ear was the standard weekend attire.

In 1998, upon retiring from the Dept of Education, Joe decided to make Carrabassett Valley his permanent home. The camp was moved off the lot and out of the valley to make way for a lovely new home. After 30 years in the same job, the same town, the same house, it was a big leap. With surprising agility, he reactivated the Take-off --- Flight --- Landing sequence of his youth. In his assessment, it was a successful jump. He and his partner Ruthie settled into a life they thoroughly enjoyed. In "retirement," Joe drove the mountain shuttle, regaling the masses with tales of his beloved Sugarloaf. Friends encircled one another. Daily Happy Hours at Tufulio's were lively events with Joe holding court-- a martini or Manhattan in hand.  Ruthie, his constant companion of two decades, passed in 2019.

As Joe's physical health and mobility declined, valley friends and his daughters looked after him. Eventually, the time had come for Joe to relocate. With the encouragement and support of his girls, he agreed to move to the Landing in Cape Elizabeth, to be closer to family. To say he was reluctant to leave his home on the river, his dear friends in the valley, and the mountain he loved would be a colossal understatement. Looking through the front windshield in the direction of Cape Elizabeth, he quoted the great philosopher Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get."

At age 88, the Take-off --- Flight --- Landing sequence was a little wobbly, requiring the support of a walker and all four of his daughters. While airborne, Joe resolved to give it a go, to bite into the new experience with a sense of adventure. Upon landing (at The Landing) he quickly settled in, adapting to the ease and comfort of assisted living. With family close by and attentive, Joe was invited to nourish important relationships that had wilted in years prior. He enjoyed all visits and outings – drives through the familiar town/surrounding city, dining out, meeting people (bonus if they spoke/understood even a few words of French), lively conversations, oyster nights, trips to the casino, birthday parties and, of course, the happy hour martini or Manhattan. He looked forward to spending time with the UNE students who would stop by his room-- just to chat. He was enamored with Apple Music and Bluetooth. "Will you tell your gizmo to play Annie's Song?" he would ask. He'd sing out loud, and the requests would keep coming.

On Feb 17th our Father, Joe, celebrated his 90th birthday at The Cedar's where he was not easily recovering from an extended hospital stay. Cards, photos and well wishes from the mountain lined the dresser. A few days later, amid a room filled with chatter, he let us girls know that he was preparing for his final jump. As the first dose of comfort medication was administered, the doctor asked Joe, "Is there anything else we can get you?"

Without hesitation, he playfully said, "How about a Manhattan?"

We like to imagine that he approached the ramp with the memory of "Pete's Jump" at the end of Spruce Street; that take-off was smooth, and being in flight at zero gravity was thrilling. Wherever our dad lands, we hope it feels like home.

In addition to his four daughters – Leslie Lampert (Carl Johnson), Sue Lessard, Mary Ellen Lessard and Rachel Pasquale (Ben), Joe is survived by 6 grandchildren: Ben, Sam, Kayla, Lizzie, Emma and Isabella, and one great-grandson, Luca. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Bernadette and Ferdinand, his brother, Ray, his loving partner Ruth Fearon and many dear friends who undoubtedly met him at the gate. The Lessard family gives special thanks to his Carrabassett Valley family. Too many friends to name, but especially Ted and Sue.

For the care and support, gratitude is extended to The Landing in Cape Elizabeth, and to The Cedars in Portland.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 17th @3:00. Address: 1016 Spring Farm Road, Carrabassett Valley. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Town of Carrabassett (memo line: To Supplement Town Protection)