Obituary of Henri E Breton

Henri Edmond Breton died 9/17 after a long illness at home. He was born 12/3/27 in Jay, Maine with parents Willie and Antoinette (Fournier) Breton. He grew up in Livermore Falls, Maine and served in WWII in the Aleutian Islands and was stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska. He was an MP and newspaper editor (SourDough Sentinel), earned an expert medal, MI Carbine, marksman, Colt 45. He came home to Maine and finished high school and graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in physics, his thesis on solar radiation. He started at Eastman Kodak in 1953 and retired as a research physicist in 1983. He was proud of his work developing the liquid gate process to take scratches out of motion picture film and an x-ray sensitometer for US Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC, among other projects. He was a long time resident of Irondequoit, NY and enjoyed a variety of hobbies and was good at so many things. He loved to sail first a knarr and then a Redwing 30" "Dirigo" sailing all over Lake Ontario and beyond most times singlehanding. He was a former member of the Rochester Yacht Club. Early in retirement Henri also had a silk screen printing business called the Rochester Lemonade Company, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade". He kept his sense of humor despite chronic pain starting in the 80's and in 1990 he made a 2400 mile trip of the Great Lakes singlehanding most of the way. After giving up sailing he began canoeing and camping ultimately deciding to buy some land and later moving to Prattsburgh where he built a log cabin almost totally by himself, cutting trees on his own land, hauling them himself and using his mechanical engineering to raise the logs. Other interests were painting, ham radio operator (KBZYXR), Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, making maple syrup and enjoyed being a dog owner, especially his white lab Snowflake. He also enjoyed travelling and meeting people, with his wife to moebius syndrome get-togethers all over the country and England and Norway. He was an elder in Prattsburgh Presbyterian Church and in charge of installing an elevator and stairchairs. He helped repair the bell and clock in the tower. As dealing with winter on his hilltop haven became too much he and Diane decided to go "south" to live in Bath, NY. While dealing recently with heart trouble and kidney cancer he enjoyed interacting wtih the CareFirst hospice nurses and other personnel. Despite these problems he hardly missed a day at the Shady Dog restaurant in Bath, NY He was predeceased by brothers Robert and Arthur (Pete) Breton. Survived by his loving wife of 27 years Diane, mother- and father-in-law Beverly and Robert Williams, sister-in-law Carol (Dan) Baker, nephew Larry (Jody) Breton, niece Beverly (Steve) Yates and many other nieces and nephews and their children, and relatives by marriage of the Williams, Barg, Schading families. Also many special friends including Dave and Jan Thorn, Branchport and Ron and Susan Reinstma, Dutton, Ontario and he was a longtime friend of Bill W. Visitation will be held on Monday 9/22 from 4:00-6:00 pm at Fagan's Funeral Home Bath, NY. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, 9/23 at 10:00 am at the Prattsburgh Presbyterian Church with a graveside service to follow at 11:00 am at the Bath National Cemetery with military honors. Contributions can be made to the Salvation Army or a charity of your choice.