Roland C Racine

Plattsburgh Roland C. Racine, 79, of 10 Lynde Street, passed away on December 20 at his home, surrounded by his family after a 7-month battle with cancer. Born May 21, 1929, in Champlain, New York, he was the son of the late Ulric and Blandine (Denault) Racine. Roland was a kind and gentle man who believed that everyone deserves to be happy and he made every effort to make people smile, including those he did not know. He is best known by his family and friends for his love towards his wife, Patricia, bringing her breakfast in bed every morning and assisting her with teaching ballroom dance at Langlois-Racine Dance School to many members of the community for over 50 years. He especially enjoyed the socializing benefit that came with the job! He also loved to tap dance, to read books on psychology and human behavior, and to fly his airplane. Additionally, he will be remembered for his wise advice and spiritual inspiration, for his fondness for morning coffee meetings with his buddies, for his dedication to helping others, for never saying "no" when asked for help, and for always seeing the positive in everyone and every difficult situation. His compassion, kindness, and warmth will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Roland graduated from St. Mary's School in Champlain and continued his education later in life by earning his high school diploma and continuing on to college level study. He was a United States Army veteran, a certified pilot, and an Arthur Murray Bronze Medalist in ballroom dance. Roland started working as a youngster on his family farm and joined the Army in 1953. After the Army, he was a self-employed auto mechanic and auto salesman, a City of Plattsburgh employee with the Department of Public Works, a landlord, a property owner, and an assistant to his son, Michael, at WashLand CarWash and Laundry-Mat and to his son, James, at Integrity Towing & RV. Roland was a lifetime member of the Plattsburgh Elks Lodge and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council in Plattsburgh. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Langlois Racine, their five children, sons, James Racine and his wife Chari of Beekmantown, Michael Racine and his wife, Isabel of Plattsburgh; daughters, Ann Rabideau and her husband, Jack of Plattsburgh, Barbara Racine-Hammond and her husband, Marc of Plattsburgh, and Julie Racine-Parshall and her husband Joseph of Cartersville, Georgia; three brothers and sisters and their spouses, George and Gladys Racine of Champlain, Irene and Mike Tetreault of Champlain, and Maurice and Lucille Racine of Champlain; 18 grandchildren, Chad, Cory and Tricia Rabideau; Justin, Cameron, Daniel, and Drew Racine; Tony Healey Jr. and his wife, Donna, Trina Healey and partner, Joshua Cohen, Tyler Healey, Tarissa Healey and Jake Hammond; Alexander Racine, and Christian, Jenny, and Gino Blando; and Dessie and Hailie Parshall; and two great-grand children, Jezabella and Gavriella Cohen. Roland was pre-deceased by eight brothers and sisters and their spouses, brothers Arthur Racine and his wife, Elise, Alfred Racine Sr. and his wife, Octavia, Allyre Racine and his wife, Annette, Rene Racine and his wife, Jacqueline; sisters, Loretta Favreau and her husband, Ubald, Bertha Robinson and her husband, Leon, Blanche Girard and her husband, Danny, and Clair Tetreault and her husband, George. Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m, Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, at Brown's Funeral Home, 29 Broad St., Plattsburgh. Members of the Knights of Columbus Council #255 will meet Friday evening at 6:00 PM for services and members of the Plattsburgh Elks Lodge will meet Friday evening at 7:30 PM for services. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon, Saturday, December 27, 2008, at St. Peter's Church, 114 Cornelia Street, Plattsburgh. Donations in memory of Roland C. Racine may be made to St. Peter's Church, 114 Cornelia Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Online condolences may be made and memorial candles lit at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com.