André Pied

SKOWHEGAN – André was a caring person known for his work in adult education and his ability to engage people through song, dance and games. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Emile and Cecile Pied. He grew up playing pond hockey, swimming in the ocean and spending time with siblings, Claudette, Claire, Georgette, Bernadette, and Paul. A descendant of Canadian immigrants, André spoke French before learning English at school.

André attended Northern Michigan University, where he played football and earned a degree in physical education. Though he struggled with academics, this struggle became the foundation of a career helping others navigate traditional education. In 1968, he earned a Master’s in Community Education and Educational Administration. He often told stories about his Midwestern adventures: hitchhiking home; sleeping on friends’ couches to save money; living in a camper on Lake Superior; and hunting, fishing, and canoeing with friends.

While working in Vermont, André met schoolteacher Barbara Nawrath, with whom he would be married for 18 years. They had three children, Nicole, Claudine, and David, and maintained a strong connection until his death.

The family first lived in Vermont and Michigan, where André worked as a principal and community education director. In 1978, André took a job as the Adult and Community Education Director in Caribou, Maine, where the family lived for seven years, before moving to Skowhegan. André continued his dedication to helping adults earn high school diplomas and to developing programs that brought the community together.

In the 1990s, André became interested in enhancing social and historical connections between Maine and Quebec. He developed language and cultural exchange programs between Quebec and Maine, leading to the creation of the Kennebec-Chaudière Heritage Corridor, which highlights the historical movement of people along an international river corridor.

André loved and appreciated his friends and family, including his siblings and their children; in-laws, Chris, Alexej, and Toni; and grandchildren, Zebulon, Eleanor, Silas, Sam, and Sawyer. He enjoyed kayaking, snowmobiling, hiking, and time with friends.

André died July 14, 2024, at age 81, after struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease. Friends and family are invited to gather and celebrate his life at Lakewood Golf Course Clubhouse in Madison, Maine on August 23 at 4 p.m.