Albert G. Cyr

PRESQUE ISLE - Al Cyr died July 8, 2021 at his home in Leisure Village with family present. Albert G Cyr was born on October 22, 1930 in Hamlin ME to Remi P Cyr and Alexina (Parent) Cyr. He attended schools in Hamlin and Van Buren and graduated from Van Buren Boys High School in 1948. He attended the Oxford School of Business in Cambridge MA in 1949 and transferred to the University of Maine where he completed a one-year course in Agriculture. Al married Anne Marie Dionne on December 26, 1950 and settled on the family farm in Hamlin. He began his career in potato farming in 1951; in 1952, he expanded his operation to include buying, packaging, brokerage, and shipping. In the 1950s, he was elected to the Maine Potato Council, Maine Potato Agreement Committee, Maine Mercantile Potato Advisory Committee, and the Aroostook ASC Committee. He was a Director and then President of the Aroostook Federation of Farmers from 1960 to 1968. He served as a Director of Maine Potato Growers from 1962 to 1965. He was also a member of the Aroostook County Farm Bureau for 20 years. He served three years on the Credit Farm Services and served on the Maine Marketing Agreement Committee. In 1961, Al was recognized as Outstanding Young Farmer of Maine. In 1971, he served as Vice President of the Agricultural Bargaining Council. In the early 1970s, he broke away from farming. The Maine potato business was facing stiff competition from other states and his children were pursuing other areas of interest. In 1973, he built and operated Caribou Nursing Home Inc. and worked as Administrator of the facility. In 1976, he purchased and renovated Aroostook Convalescent Center and renamed it Presque Isle Nursing Home. Ten years later, he built Leisure Gardens Inc, an independent living center for elderly residents in Presque Isle. He started the complex with 17 apartments and it has grown to 137 apartments today. He was proud that all six of his children worked in these facilities; four became licensed administrators and operated the facilities; 2 worked as office managers. His grandson, Douglas, now owns and manages Leisure Gardens Inc and another grandson, Gregory, works at the complex as the bookkeeper. Al was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a charter member and President of the Van Buren Lions Club. He served on the SAD #24 Board of Directors from 1958 to 1962 and 1966 to 1976. He was a member of the Maine Health Care Association and served as Vice-President on the Board of Directors from 1978 to 1980. Albert is survived by his children: Paul (Karen) Cyr, Rose-Marie Louten, Michael (Carla) Cyr, all of Presque Isle; Margaret (Maurice) Daigle of St. Leonard, NB, Canada; Philip (Bonnie) Cyr of Caribou, and Janet Morrill of Bangor; He is also survived by a sister, Angela Cyr Owens, San Antonio, TX and sisters in law Patricia V Cyr, of South Portland, ME and Aline B Cyr of Mountain Home, ID. He will be missed by grandchildren: Denise Daigle Mazerolle (Luc), Theresa Cyr, Stephanie Cyr Lemon (Rob), Jennifer Louten (Scott Rowlands), Nicholas Morrill, Kyle Morrill , Andre Daigle, Christopher Louten (Allison), Bradley Cyr, Douglas Cyr (Brandi Saucier) and Gregory Cyr (Ashley Filimonow). He is also survived by many great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Albert was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Anne, brothers Louis Cyr, Bernard Cyr, and John Cyr, sisters Marie Cyr Albert and Marcella Cyr Jones, and his grandson, Mitchell Cyr. The family is grateful to the staff of Leisure Village/ Leisure Gardens for the loving care they provided to Albert and also thanks Seniors Domestics for their role in his care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mitchell Cyr Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Northern Maine Community College, 33 Edgemont Drive, Presque Isle ME 04769. A visitation will be held from 3-5pm on Friday, August 20, 2021 at Duncan Graves Funeral Home in Presque Isle, and from 9-10am on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am. Memories and condolences may be shared at ww.duncan-graves.com