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later became Oceanside High School. Plourde was heavily involved in the Special Olympics program in that area
and volunteered at the Maine Lobster Festival, eventually serving as president of the festival for two years.

Rob Moran ‘85 of Houlton both played and later coached under Plourde. Moran went on to coach the Houlton
boys’ basketball team for four seasons (2011-12 to 2014-15) and brought that same attention to detail to his
preparation for the game.

Moran said he was saddened to hear of his former mentor’s passing.

“Coach Plourde certainly was fun to play for,” Moran said. “I also coached JV (junior varsity) under him and he was
very supportive toward me. At that time, (late 1980’s) I was considered young for a JV coach. Brian gave me my first
opportunity as a JV coach and helped me as a mentor. I know he did a ton for the community in Rockland as well.”

Richard Fournier ‘89, a Houlton native who now resides in the Bangor area, said he remembers Plourde as an “old
school” type of coach. Fournier played for Plourde for three seasons, until his graduation in 1989.

“He was very detail oriented and his practices were very well organized,” Fournier said. “He knew his stuff.”

Terry Cummings ‘87, boys basketball coach at Presque Isle High School, played for three seasons under coach
Plourde in Houlton from 1984-85 to 1986-87.

“I was very upset to hear of Coach Plourde’s passing,” Cummings said. “I remember when he became our coach my
sophomore year. We had some good young players, but were a year away from being really good. We lost some really
close games that year.”

Cummings said his junior year the Shires went 15-3 under Plourde and went into the tournament as the No. 1 seed.
Houlton lost in the semifinals to Rockland. His senior year, Houlton finished 13-5 and went into the tournament as
the No. 5 seed. Houlton upset No. 4 Mount Desert Island in the quarterfinals, but lost to eventual state champion
Mt. View in the semifinals.

“I really liked and respected Coach Plourde and it was a privilege to play for him,” Cummings said. “He challenged
me to be a better player and most importantly a better person. He taught me so much in those three years. It really
helped shape me and I learned so many valuable life lessons that I still use today with the student-athletes that I now
coach.”

Cummings recalled seeing Plourde a few years ago while both were in Houlton over the Fourth of July. “We
reminisced about the old days and had a great conversation,” Cummings said. “He had so much confidence in me as
a player and as a person. Thank you coach for the impact that you had on my life! I will never forget you.”

Plourde leaves behind a wife, Diane, whom he married in August of 2015 and two adult children, Hannah and
Laura and a stepson Matthew Snell.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at the Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home in
Rockland.

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