Stephen L. Fontaine

BEECHER FALLS – Stephen L. Fontaine, 65, of Beecher Falls, Vt., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, following a year-and-a-half long battle with cancer, and with his wife at his side. Steve was born in Newport, Vt., on Dec. 8, 1948, a son to Lawrence and Gertrude (Cheney) Fontaine. After high school, he trained in Manchester, NH, in auto mechanics, but later returned to the north country and worked at the Beecher Falls Division of Ethan Allen, and then for many years as a foreman at Tillotson Rubber Co. in Dixville. He retired from The Balsams in 2012 as a boiler operator. Steve married Patsy Blanchard in June of 1975, and together they took off on a 900 Kawasaki motorcycle for a fairytale honeymoon. He loved his family and always made sure he provided all that they needed. Steve would attempt to fix any house, appliance or car problem by himself before calling a repairman. He also enjoyed learning and was an avid reader. His interests included watching movies, dogs, books, fishing, tinkering on cars, feeding the crows and being in his motorboat. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Patsy Fontaine of Beecher Falls; a son, Stephen James Fontaine and his wife Lauren of Ohio; his father, Lawrence Fontaine of Derby, Vt.; a brother, Dennis Fontaine and wife Nancy of Twin Mountain, NH; a sister, Laurie Fontaine of Derby, Vt.; two bright-eyed grandsons, Tyler & Gavin Fontaine of Ohio; four nephews, Bryan & Chris Fontaine, and Justin & Seth Blanchard; four nieces, Melanie Walker, Brittany & Courtney Blanchard, and Sarah Fontaine; his brother-in-law, Tal Blanchard and wife Maureen of Beecher Falls; his sister-in-law, Betsy Fontaine of Norton, Vt.; and his beloved and faithful canine companion, Alvin. He is preceded in death by his son Matthew in 2003; his beloved brother Sherman Fontaine in 1996; and his mother in 2013. There will be no public calling hours. A memorial service will be held at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at 1 p.m. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Fontaine may be made to the Two Rivers Ride for Cancer, c/o R. Mulliken, Spring St., Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements in NH are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.

Stephen L. Fontaine

December 8, 1948 - September 2, 2014