Marcel G. Gagnon, of Old Orchard Beach, died suddenly on 30 April, 2021 in Portland.  He was born in Biddeford on January 8 ^th , 1939 to Adolphe (François-Xavier) and Delvina (Canuel) Gagnon.  He attended École Saint-Joseph, and Saint-Louis High School, where he played drums in the marching band.  He Graduated Class of 1958, and still had many life-long friends from his Elementary and High School Years.  He also taught himself to play guitar. After High School, he joined the U.S. Army, and received training in what would become his vocation, culinary arts. He served at Fort Devens, Mass., Fort Bragg, N.C., and in Keflavik, Iceland.  Following the Army, he worked for several years at the Colony Hotel, for 25 years for Reilley's bakery, and then for another 20 years for Maine Medical Center heading Bakery Services. It was here that he accepted students from the former SMVTI in a culinary mentoring program to encourage younger people to enter the culinary profession.  Over the years, Marcel made many wedding cakes for members of the family.  He was also known for several "specialty" recipes that will live on in family memory.  Even though retired, Marcel could not be kept out of the kitchen, and had a part-time role at Bill's Pizza in Old Orchard.

Marcel's sense of duty carried on through his involvement in first the Cub Scouts, followed by his work in the Boy Scouts, where he was Troop Master for Troop 309 for several years.  He was forever proud of having taken the troop on a cycle tour of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, traveling aboard the Prince of Fundy.  Many scouts involved in that trip still speak of the foggy adventure.  Marcel was also involved in advocacy and co-founded, With Claudette Gagnon, the first New England Chapter of the Survivors' Network of Those Abused by Priests.  He was also active in his faith community of that period, serving as a Eucharistic Minister.

In his later years, Marcel enjoyed some travel to Toronto and Montréal, and spend several Winters in Florida.

Marcel is survived by his partner of 13 years, Patricia (nee Armstrong) Perrault of Portland, his brother Norman and wife Thérèse of Biddeford; his sister Muriel of Biddeford; his sister Georgette and husband Louis-André Dion of Saint-George-de-Beauce, Québec, sister-in-law Lorraine of Saco, and son David-Roger of Montréal-Ouest, Québec. He is also survived by Godson Guy Gagnon of Biddeford and Goddaughter Darlene Sprague of Portland, 23 nieces and nephews and their spouses, and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents Aldophe and Delvina, his sons Peter and Gregory, Claudette Gagnon, Brothers George-Henri and wife Marie, Robert and wife Lucille, Raymond and wife Estelle; and Donald.

Honoring his expressed wishes, there will be no funeral.  Burial will be at a later date.  A Celebration of Life will be held later in the year once Covid-19 concerns subside.  In lieu of cards and flowers, family request that donations in his memory please be sent to any of the following:

Southern Maine Community College Hospitality (Culinary Arts) Program

Attention:  Maureen Lasalle mlasalle@smccme.edu (207) 741-5746

Saint Louis Alumni Association (207) 282-2285

Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) https://www.snapnetwork.org

Funeral arrangements are through Côté Funeral Home in Saco, Maine.