David J. "Doc" LaPointe | Visitation:
Sunday, September 14, 2008
2:00 PM until 4:00 PM
7:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Ready Funeral & Cremation Services
South Chapel
Burlington, VT 05401
Service:
Monday, September 15, 2008
11:00 AM
St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church
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| | | DAVID J. “DOC“ LAPOINTE March 27, 1919 - Sept. 11, 2008 BURLINGTON — David J. “Doc“ LaPointe, 89, died peacefully in Fletcher Allen Health Care. “Doc“ was born in Burlington, the son of Arthur and Emelia (Sicard) LaPointe. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. “Doc“ is survived by his three daughters, Kathleen Cooley of Sacramento, Calif., Mary Jane Hanks of Camarillo, Calif., and Judi Melendrez of San Jose, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren; his brothers and sisters, Sister Marguerite LaPointe of Methuen, Mass., Sister Theresa LaPointe of Canada, Martha Trotter and her husband, Earl of Burlington, Helen Benoit of Colchester, Agatha LaPointe and her husband, Robert Bronconnier, of Brockton, Mass., Bibianne McDowell of South Burlington, and Arthur LaPointe of Montreal, Quebec; many nieces, nephews, and close friends of which include Connie and Bill Willey of Paris, Ken. “Doc“ was predeceased by his parents; a son, David; a son-in-law Michael Hanks; three brothers, Eli, William, and Henry; a sister, Sister Bernadette LaPointe; and his former wife, Beatrice LaPointe. “Doc“ was a bright, incisive man with a keen wit, but lacked the opportunity for a formal education as he had to leave school as a young boy in order to help his mother and father provide for his 11 siblings. $.33 (cents) per week was his first wage doing dishes at the hospital where he passed away yesterday. His childhood chums names him “Doc“ because of this hospital connection; and he always liked if better than his father's nickname of “Baby.“ To earn money for his mother after his father's passing, he also started a delivery service using roller blades at a penny-a-run across the trolley tracks and about town in Burlington. “Doc“ was a hard worker, sheet rocker, bartender, a good gardener, rose expert, and good cook. His sending “meat pies“ through the U.S. Mail, regular delivery, was a specialty and he did not take kindly to the suggestion they might spoil in transit because they “were frozen“ when they left! He was also a very good baseball and softball player, winning the Vermont State Softball Championship in 1938-1939; an avid Boston Red Sox fan; and an avid UVM Basketball fixture, never missing a chance to knock “Corm and the Coach!“ Mike Lonergan also made the A-list! “Doc“ enjoyed his association with the Willey Family dating back to the Depression. He worked on their farms in Essex Junction, South Hero, and Paris, Ken. He made many friends in these years and ran his coffee shop in the tack room of the barn, providing a gathering place for many. Also, he was especially proud of his Thoroughbred namesake (of the Secretariat Line) “Doc LaPointe.“ The fact that the Thoroughbred Doc bites and kicks is appropro! Having lost his parents to cancer, “Doc“ has asked that any contributions in lieu of flowers be made to Vermont's Camp Ta Kum Ta, P.O. Box 576, Waterbury, VT 05676, who will be making their new home on lands the “Good Doctor“ helped to beautify in South Hero. Have a safe journey “Doc!“ You were one-of-a-kind and will be missed by those you let get to know you! A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m., in St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., in the Ready Funeral and Cremation Service, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road. To send online condolences, please visit www. readyfuneral. com.
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