Alcide "Ben" Villandry

Alcide “Ben” Villandry passed away on September 9, 2021 from complications with COPD. He was born on February 27, 1931 to Alcide Villandry and Yvonne Pepin. He graduated from St Louis High School in 1949 and immediately enlisted in the US Army in which he served honorably for four years. After his discharge, he attended St Francis College in Biddeford where he earned his associates degree. On July 2, 1956, he married Beatrice Parenteau and they celebrated their 65th anniversary earlier this year. They adopted Normand, Kathleen, and later in life, Christopher. Outside of the family, his greatest passions were sports and marching bands. He was the leader of the color guard at St Louis HS until they closed and remained active with the Alumni band and marched in the annual La Kermesse parade into his eighties. He was the golf coach at St Louis until they closed. He was also part of the two-man crew that filmed every football game for the coaching staff. He remained active in the St Louis Alumni and was a lifetime member. Throughout the 1970’s and early 1980’s, he remained active in youth sports by serving as the umpire-in-chief for both Biddeford Senior League baseball and the junior high school league. He was also a fixture at the St Josephs Parish Hall during that same period refereeing basketball games for over a decade. His home was always open to anyone who wanted to hang out and watch game. Even those players who fouled out of basketball games or had a questionable called third strike never held a grudge and continued to show up at the house years after their playing days were over. Ben was also an avid golfer throughout his life and looked forward to the annual Myrtle Beach golf outing which had as many as 40 attendees travelling south to participate. He could be seen around town wearing his Red Sox gear and rarely missed a game and never passed up the opportunity to “debate” with a Yankee fan. If you did not agree that Ted Williams was the greatest that ever played, be prepared for that discussion too. He retired from Saco Lowell/Maremont after 30+ years and worked selling cars in retirement to remain active as well as being a ranger at Biddeford-Saco country club. He was an active parishioner at St Josephs in Biddeford. He is survived by his wife Beatrice, a brother Dr Phillip Villandry, children Norm and spouse Lisa (Sparkowich), Kathleen and husband Marc (Gobeil), and Christopher and spouse Jessica (Hewes). Grandchildren Anthony, Erik, Alex, Mariah, Zachary, Ryan, and great granddaughter Ever. Visiting Hours will be held Friday, September 17th, 2021 from 11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm Street, Biddeford, ME, 04005. A funeral service will be held at 12:00p.m. at Hope Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford.