Eugene Roger Hallee

WATERVILLE – Eugene Roger Hallee, 93, beloved son, brother, husband, father, pepere, grandpepere, and friend to many, who is now with his faithful companion, Jeanne, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta with his loving family by his side.

He was born on Dec. 16, 1931, in Waterville, the son of Albert and Leonie (Audet) Hallee, and attended grammar school at Notre Dame School with the Ursulines until the fourth grade and St. Joseph Boys’ School on Silver Street, taught by the Brothers of Christian Instruction.

In November 1944, he entered the Juniorate in Alfred, where he graduated as a senior from Notre Dame Institute in 1949. Besides the four years of intense study in high school, he excelled in piano, organ and voice as a soprano. From 1949 to 1950, he completed his Novitiate in Canada (half a year in Laprairie and half a year in Oka) pronouncing his first vows in August 1950. He returned to Alfred for his Scholasticate (college, from 1950-1952) at LaMennais College.

In September 1952 he began teaching a fourth grade of 40 boys, in Plattsburg, N.Y. He was also the organist at St. Peter’s Church that year, playing Gregorian Chant at daily mass.

The following two years (September 1953 to June 1955) he taught consecutively the seventh and then an eighth grade at St. Louis High School in Biddeford. He also conducted the boys’ choir at St. Joseph Parish Church those years.

Upon returning home in Waterville in July 1955, he worked at Montgomery Ward for five months. In January 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and performed his basic training at Fort Dix, N.J. After a short stay at Fort Devens, Mass., waiting for clearances and permanent assignment, on June 29, 1956, after a few days in Frankfurt, he was assigned at SHAPE Headquarters, Paris, France, to serve a three-year obligation as a French translator/ interpreter/cryptographer. He was part of the Army Security Agency (ASA – now Army Intelligence). From September 1956 to May 1957, he was on an inspection team that visited the NATO Communication Centers: Malta in November, Fontainebleau in December, Oslo in February and Naples in March. He was also a member of a team of instructors commissioned to teach communication to the new Bundeswehr in Arhweila, Germany (near Bonn), in January, 1957.

On furlough to Waterville on June 4, 1957, he married his most gracious companion, Jeanne Poulin. Together, they spent a two-year honeymoon in Paris, traveling throughout France, Belgium, Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein. At this time, Hallee was Section Leader in the Crypto Section having earned the rank of Spec 5, E5.

Upon leaving active duty in July 1959, he worked one year at Purelac Dairy. At that time, he was very active in his parish, Notre Dame, on Water Street. He was elected Choir Master at church, leading a four-part choir with French rubrics and Gregorian Chant for a total of six years. He also taught CCD and was a Scout Master, sponsored by the parish, for four years.

Having obtained his teaching license in August 1960, he was hired as Principal/Teacher at Troy Elementary School. The following year he was Principal/Teacher at St. Joseph Boys School in Waterville. From August 1962 to June 1965, he taught General Science, Algebra, Geometry, Health and Latin at Williams High School, in Oakland. In the summer of 1961, he graduated with a BA in Science/Math. He also attended National Science Foundation Institutes in the summer of 1965 at Colby College, Brown University in 1967, and University of California at Berkeley in 1968.

From 1965 until 1979, he taught Chemistry, Algebra intermittently and one semester of Earth Science at Waterville High School. He was Class Adviser for the Class of ’72 and Cheerleader Adviser for two years. He also taught three night math classes at KVVTI for five years. From 1979 until retirement in 1990, he taught Chemistry, Physics, Algebra, Trigonometry and Finite Math at KVCC in Fairfield. After retiring, he taught Chemistry night classes in Skowhegan, and Algebra and Biology in Waterville until May, 2008. He spent close to 56 years in the classroom.

He was a member of the Maine Army National Guard and Reserves beginning in October, 1963, serving in the following units: the 3/20 Armored Division, the 240th Engineer Group, Maine Military Academy HHD in Augusta, 133rd USAR School in Portland and 76 Training Division in Augusta. He retired in October, 1988, after 33 years of total service, at the rank of MSG, E8.

He also was MC for the Franco-American Festival for 12 years since its inception. He loved the French language and endeavored to entertain the public with as many French jokes and stories as possible. He also prepared a booklet for the French Masses during those days and conducted the French Church music.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 50 years, Jeanne (Poulin) Hallee; his parents; one brother, Clarence Hallee, and two sisters, Priscilla Riley and Celeste Goldrup.

He is survived by his three children, Claude Hallee and his wife Sylvia of Waterville, Claire Breton and her husband Denis of South China, and Denise Levesque and her husband, Richard, of Augusta. He is also survived by one sister, Marlene Hallee of Mesa Ariz., three brothers, Terrence Hallee of Winslow, Jerome Hallee of Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Bernard Hallee of Georgetown, Texas; six grandchildren, Ryan Hallee, Renee Hallee, Hallee Breton, Lauren Ibrahem, Michael Levesque, and Madeline Levesque; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Dr. Feero at Four Seasons Family Practice in Fairfield, Oak Grove Rehabilitation Center in Waterville, and all the nurses, doctors and staff at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta for their care and compassion.

There will be no visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m., at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver St., Waterville. An interment will be held on Oct. 27, at 10 a.m. at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Avenue, Augusta.

The church service can be watched via livestream on the church website, Notre Dame Live Stream.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed; condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

Remembrance gifts

may be made to:

the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament

101 Silver St.

Waterville, ME 04901 or:

St. Michael School

56 Sewall St.

Augusta, ME 04330