ARTHUR DAIGNAULT

ARTHUR DAIGNAULT BURLINGTON - Arthur Daignault died peacefully at the Starr Farm Nursing Home on Nov. 14, 2009. He had lived bravely with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease for the past four years. He was born in Burlington, on Oct. 1, 1930, to John and Alice (LeVesque) Daignault. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1948 and enlisted in the Navy, serving as a weather technician during the Korean War. He was discharged honorably in 1952 and returned to Burlington. He started work as a salesman with the young New England Hospital Supply Company, and had been involved in medical sales over the next 50 years. He loved his work; he enjoyed the customers, fellow employees<$> even his competitors, who he always respected and got along with very well. Art met his beautiful wife, Joyce LaBelle, in high school. He met her again when he returned from the Navy, and they were married in 1960. Over the next five years they had three children: David, Marty and Julie. They were married almost fifty years. In the ensuing years Art invested in New England Hospital Supply Company, and finally bought out the owners (Dick an Shirley Pelkey, whom he loved as a second family.) He developed new branches and eventually sold the company to Healthco, and was made Vice President of Sales and put in charge of thirteen medical stores in the northeastern United States. Additionally, in the '70s, he invested in Woods Sporting Goods on Church Street and built that business into Valuga Sports on Shelburne Road in South Burlington. In 1980 he moved on, buying the George C. Frye Company in Portland, Maine. He, Joyce and Julie moved there and stayed until Art's retirement in the late nineties. He and Joyce returned to Burlington to be closer to their oldest friends and lived quietly on Lake Champlain. Art never really retired, though, as he kept active selling modest amounts of health supplies, driving limousines and checking press passes at a major league of spring training camp in Florida. He also played golf and tennis regularly and watched most Boston Red Sox, Celtic and New York Giant games (sometimes more than one at a time, with a T.V. on top of a T.V.) He was a dedicated family man and a great friend to many. There are many who will miss him. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his children David, Marty, and Julie, and their families; his sisters, Joyce (Riciardi) and Jeanette (Pierce) and their families. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the exceptional care given to Art and his family to the Visiting Nurse Association, the staff of VNA Starr Farm Nursing Home, as well as Doctor Rupp Tandem and Doctor Robert Orr. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at 11:30 a.m. in Saint Marks Catholic Church North Avenue, Burlington. Donations may be made in Art's name to Visiting Nurse Association 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446 or to the ALS Association, Northern New England Chapter, The Concord Center, 10 Ferry Street, Suite 438, Concord NH 03301. Arrangements are in the care of Stephen C. Gregory and Son Cremation Service, Shelburne.