Donat S. Rheaume

HAVERHILL — Donat Stephen Rheaume, 58, died unexpectedly Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 while hiking in New Hampshire. He was the husband of Nancy (Hagemann) Rheaume.

Born in Haverhill on Nov. 17, 1950, he was the son of Nelson Jean Rheaume of Sandown, N.H. and the late Dorothy A. (Baird) Rheaume. A lifelong resident of Haverhill, he was a graduate of Pentucket Regional High School, Class of 1969, and attended Salem State College, where he studied education.

He was employed as computer administrator at Lucent Technologies in North Andover for 22 years before retiring in December 2002. He had also once worked at the Bailey Corporation in Seabrook for several years.

An avid outdoorsman, Donat loved to hike and geocaching. He also enjoyed skiing, camping and computer programming. He loved following his sons' high school and college musical careers, and was a member and past-president of the Haverhill High School Band Association.

In addition to his wife of thirty-five years and his father, he is survived by his two sons, Stephen Rheaume of Ashland, N.H. and John Rheaume of Auburn, Mass.; a sister, Dori Todd of Winter Haven, Fla.; three brothers, John Rheaume of Millbury, David Rheaume and James Rheaume, both of Dundee, Fla.; his stepmother, Jean Rheaume of Sandown, N.H.; two sisters-in-law, Judith H. Mazurkiewicz of Troy, N.Y. and Janice H. Gardner of W. Newton, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by a sister, Kathleen Rheaume.

ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be privately held at the convenience of the family. There are no visiting hours. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Haverhill Trails Committee, Conservation Dept. City Hall, Room 210, 4 Summer St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Arrangements are under the direction of the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill. For more information and to send online condolences, please visit www.linnehanfuneralhomes.com.