Melvin George Mathieu

WATERVILLE – Melvin George Mathieu, 77, of Waterville, Maine, passed away at home, on May 12, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Feb. 20, 1947, in Waterville, to his parents, Lionel George Mathieu and Françoise Aimée (Rodrique) Mathieu.

A second-generation French-Canadian immigrant, Melvin attended Waterville schools, where he played hockey and baseball. He was drafted during the Vietnam War and stationed in Alaska. Upon return from Alaska, he proposed to the love of his life and wife of 54 years, Marcia Marie (King) Mathieu.

The vast majority of Melvin’s career was spent working in the boiler house at Scott Paper Company in Winslow and eventually advanced his career to that of pipe fitter. He had an outstanding work ethic and worked well with everyone. When the mill eventually closed, he began commuting to Bath Iron Works to finish his career. Upon retiring, however, he bored quickly and worked as a “cabbie” in Waterville, and volunteered, giving back to the community delivering Meals on Wheels, rain, snow or shine. He made many new friends among the people he regularly visited with meals.

For a man of few words, he was quite social! Melvin loved to fish and hunt, taking several annual trips to Canada with friends. For years, on the weekends, he and Marcia could be found playing cribbage in Waterville leagues and spending time with friends. As a regular at the VFW in Waterville, he spent many a night lighting up the dance floor with anyone (literally) wanting to cut a rug; and if a Tina Turner song came on, look out!

He was an avid sports fan, and loved to watch his favorite teams. Whether it was the Red Sox, Bruins, Sea Dogs, or even Commanders (a/k/a Redskins), getting crushed or winning a championship, he couldn’t get enough of it; and if an Ali/Fraser fight was on, get out of the way and no talking in the tv room! As much as anything, he also loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports. We will miss his swearing at the television and colorful grumblings from the sidelines.

He is sadly missed by his wife, Marcia, their daughter, Renée (Mathieu) Dusch and husband, Jim Dusch, and their son, Ryan Mathieu and partner, Heather Orcutt; as well as their several grandchildren, Isabel and Zachary Link, Sawyer, Isaac and André Dusch, Liam Mathieu, and a great granddaughter, Violet Link. He is survived by sisters, Louise Mathieu, Rita and husband David Card, Jean Mathieu, and brothers Carl and Leo Mathieu, and great friends, Bob Pelletier and Franny Poulin.