Robert J. Lessard, 98, a longtime resident of Haverhill, died Thursday, Dec. 7 at High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill.
He was born and raised in Exeter, N.H., the son of the late Joseph and Alma (Denoncour) Lessard. A member of the Exeter High School Class of 1937, Lessard also attended Merrimack College. He was employed first as a civilian engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers. He began working as a surveyor for Clinton F. Goodwin Engineering and Architectural Inc. in 1945 and enjoyed a 35-year career with the firm. During that time, he obtained his license as a Professional Land Surveyor in 1957 and maintained his license until 1990. He was also employed at Thomas E. Neve Associates, Inc. of Topsfield for several years until his final retirement and still worked as an engineer until 1995.
A member of All Saints Parish of Haverhill and the former Saint Joseph Parish, he was also an active volunteer for the Saint Vincent de-Paul Society.
An avid New England Patriots and Boston Bruins fan, Lessard enjoyed many trips to Canada to visit family and friends, gardening and working around his home, solving jigsaw and word search puzzles.
Predeceased by his wife Mariette T. (Boucher) Lessard, he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by four daughters, Jacqueline Woitkowski and her husband Lawrence of Haverhill, Claire Brunault of Haverhill, Suzanne Mazza and her life partner David Joubert of Newbury and Jo-Ann DiBurro and her companion John White of Newburyport, eight grandchildren, Joseph Woitkowski, Robert Woitkowski, Jonathan Woitkowski, Christine (Brunault) Brower, Matthew Brunault, Jason Mazza, Jamie (Mazza) Dupuis and Jared Mazza, 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother Paul Lessard, a sister Cecile Toland and his son-in-law Henry DiBurro.
The family would like to thank the staff of Haverhill Crossings for their compassionate care and loving support and sense of community given to Lessard and his family during his residency. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Saint Vincent de-Paul Society of All Saints Parish, 120 Bellevue, Haverhill.
Calling hours will be private. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. at All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Ave., Haverhill, followed by burial in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Haverhill.