Bernard “Bill” Frederick Jolicoeur Jr.

WATERVILLE – Bernard “Bill” Frederick Jolicoeur Jr., 90, of Waterville, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Lakewood Healthcare Center, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly.

Bill was born in Waterville on Dec. 14, 1935, the son of Bernard Frederick Jolicoeur Sr. and Bessie (Bickford) Jolicoeur. He attended Waterville High School, where he was voted “Best Athlete” in 1954, and later earned his Associate’s Degree from Thomas College. He proudly served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, where he continued doing what he loved most: competing, playing both baseball and football.

He spent 32 years in the shipping department at Keyes Fiber Company, followed by a decade driving a school bus for the Waterville School System. A man of deep faith and community, Bill was a lifetime member of the Elks Club, the American Legion, and the VFW, and a devoted parishioner of Corpus Christi Parish. Sunday mornings at Blessed Sacrament on Silver Street were, for him, a place of true peace.

But if you really want to know who Bill was, look no further than the two things people always said about him: that he was the best athlete they had ever seen — a fierce and tenacious competitor — and that he was simply the nicest man they had ever met. He had a way of making everyone around him feel seen, supported, and cared for.

His world revolved around family, faith, and sports. He was a constant, happy presence at his grandchildren’s school events and activities, and he had a gift for turning an ordinary day into a memory — a drive to see the fall foliage, an afternoon at Bangs Beach on Messalonskee Lake, a hike up Mount Battie in Camden Hills. “The beauty of nature is free,” he liked to say, and he meant it. He and his wife Pauline had their own quiet traditions, too, including their annual walk to the VFW on the first snowfall of the season.

To say Bill was a sports fan would be a tremendous understatement. He played men’s league basketball until the age of 69, cheered passionately for his beloved New England teams — the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots — and never missed a chance to watch Waterville Hockey. He bled Purple and White to the end.

His family called him “Rev” — short for Reverend — because of his loving habit of offering guidance and wisdom to his children. He wore the nickname like a badge of honor.

Even as Alzheimer’s slowly dimmed his clarity, Bill’s spirit remained undiminished. No matter what he was going through, if you asked him how he was doing, he would smile and say, “No complaints.” That was the essence of who he was.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, Bernard Sr. and Bessie; his brother Renard, his sisters Joyce Callahan, Elaine Jolicoeur, and Carla Bilodeau; and his son-in-law Jose Fonollosa.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Pauline (Labrie) Jolicoeur; his daughters Ellen and Tracy Jolicoeur, his sons Dan (Alisa), Mark (Annette), and Jeff (Joanne) Jolicoeur; his sister Linda Williams (Walter), his brothers Steve (Katie) and David; 12 grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren; and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Catholic Mass will be held at Notre Dame Church on Friday, April 24 at 10 a.m. A celebration of Bill’s life will be announced at a later date.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the extraordinary staff at Lakewood Healthcare Center for the devoted care they gave Bill over the past several years — it was clear they came to love him, too. Heartfelt thanks also go to Beacon Hospice Care for their compassionate support during his final days.