Gregorio Juan Fuentes

ORONO - Gregorio Juan Fuentes, 86, died peacefully Jan. 5, 2011, at his home, after a long illness. He was born June 18, 1924, in Madrid, Spain, son of Cesar Fuentes and his wife, Julia Perez Bua de Fuentes. Gregorio's parents were determined that their children learn English, so Cesar and Julia sent their children to schools in Gibraltar, England and Switzerland. Greg graduated from Christian Brothers School, Gibraltar, England, in 1940. In college, he studied engineering and majored in mathematics, graduating from La Universidad de Madrid with a licenciatura in ciencias exactas in 1953. After graduation, he taught at La Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Madrid and La Universidad Laboral de Tarragona, Spain. Realizing his dream of living in the U.S., Gregorio and his wife, Maria, moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1958, where he taught at Gonzaga University for seven years. The family then moved to New Jersey, where Gregorio earned a Master of Science in mathematics from Rutgers University. Greg and Maria moved their family back to Spain, where he worked in a statistics institute. In 1967, Gregorio accepted a position at the University of Maine, and taught mathematics at UMaine for 22 years, during which Gregorio was an assistant professor. He was an authority on the history of mathematics, lecturing nationally on that subject. Gregorio also enjoyed studying literature, as well as European and U.S. history. He was an avid soccer player and fan. He also was a soccer referee for junior and senior high school games in central and eastern Maine. Before his death, he very much enjoyed seeing Spain win the World Cup Soccer title in July of 2010. Gregorio ran competitively into late middle age. He enjoyed playing tennis, volleyball and several other sports. He was a strong ocean swimmer and continued swimming into his late 70s. He was also a fierce chess player during his younger years, once tying a chess match with the national chess champion of Spain. He shared his wife's love of travel. They visited many parts of the Americas, from Canada to Costa Rica; as well as many countries in Europe and Africa. A longtime communicant at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Orono, Greg served as a Eucharistic minister, as well as a member of the choir, the parish council and many committees. When St. Mary's closed, he joined the congregation of Holy Family Parish, Old Town. Gregorio was a member of Joseph Orono Council 152, Knights of Columbus, for many years, and served as the grand knight for a period of time. He was a generous contributor to many Catholic charities. Gregorio is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Maria (Diaz Reixa) of Orono; four children, Gregory of Los Angeles, Maria and husband, Jeffrey Romano, of Hallowell, Carmen of Orono, and Alex of Oakland, Calif.; a grandson, Anthony; two sisters, Marta Fuentes de Artist and husband, Noel, of England, and Isabel Fuentes de Portillo of Granada, Spain; a brother, Julio Fuentes and wife, Teresa, of Madrid, Spain; many nieces, nephews and cousins in Spain. Gregorio was predeceased by two infant sons; and his brothers, Cesar and Alejandro. The family thanks Dr. Kerry Riker and Joanne Beal, R.N., and the medical staff at Eastern Maine Medical Center. The family is also very grateful for the care provided by hospice care of St. Joseph Hospital. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at Holy Family Parish, 429 Main St., Old Town, with the Rev. Wilfred "Bill" Labbe officiating. The family invites friends to join them in the fellowship hall after the service. Interment will be in the spring at Riverside Cemetery, Orono. Gifts in his memory may be made to Knights of Columbus, care of Tom Jones, 429 Main St., Old Town, ME 04468 or Heart Center of Eastern Maine at Eastern Maine Medical Center, care of Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.