Page 20 - Newsletter_Summer_2018

Former Houlton coach Plourde remembered by players

Joseph Cyr ‘89
Reprtined from the Houlton Pioneer Times with permission

HOULTON, Maine -- A former Houlton coach and
physical education teacher, who guided the Shire boys’
basketball team for several years in the 1980s, died
Wednesday, May 2, in a Boston hospital after a battle with
cancer.

Brian Paul Plourde, 57, of Dresden, also resided in
Rockland, Houlton, and Waterville. He was diagnosed
with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in October 2017 and
underwent extensive chemotherapy treatments in his fight
against the cancer.

Plourde “fought an incredible battle with this disease and
he impressed us all with his unending positive attitude,” his
daughter Hannah said.

Plourde died at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston
due to complications from a stem cell transplant he
received only a few days prior.

Born on Aug. 3, 1960, in Waterville to parents Carroll and
Kathleen Sylvia Plourde (Hamel), Plourde graduated from
Waterville High School in 1978 and was active in many
sports throughout his childhood. Pursuing his passion for Former Houlton educator and boys basketball coach Brian
playing baseball, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Plourde, middle, died Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer.
Annapolis and then went on to the University of Maine at With Plourde in this undated photo are his two adult daughters
Hannah, left, and Laura.
Orono, enjoying pitching for both school baseball teams.

He started his teaching and coaching career in Houlton, a town that held a special place in his heart even though he
moved away several years ago, Hannah said. It was in Houlton that he first settled down and started a family. Both
of his daughters, Hannah and Laura, were born in Houlton when he was married to Kim Reardon ‘80.

“He had his hands in just about everything sports, from coaching to umpiring and refereeing,” Hannah said.
“One of his finest projects was creating a Babe Ruth league and vastly improving Houlton’s baseball facilities. This
program had a profound impact on Houlton’s youth for years to come.”

In addition to teaching, Plourde coached the boys’ basketball team at Houlton High School from 1984 to 1990. He
worked for SAD 29 for 17 years before relocating to Rockland to become its athletic director.

“His major goal for this new position was to improve the playing fields, doing most of the work himself,” Hannah
said. “He quickly made friends in the area and discovered his love of the ocean. He was able to try his hand at
hauling lobster traps and enjoyed being a part of the Lobster Boat Races.”

Plourde also taught health at both the high school and middle school levels in the Rockland school district, which

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