Allen William Gagnon

WISCASSET -- Allen William Gagnon, also know to many as "Red," 71, passed peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2008, at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Jackman on Sept. 4, 1936, a son of Ralph and Lucille (Poulin) Gagnon. He attended schools in Jackman, Biddeford and Wiscasset, and in Connecticut and Vermont. For a time, he operated a trailer park in Sandy Hook, Conn.

On Nov. 30, 1957, he married Ann Quinnam and, in 1964, they returned to Wiscasset, where he owned and operated Gagnon's Trailer Park. He was employed at Bath Iron Works as a painter for 12 years and then established Gagnon's Catering as well as Al's Place and Pizzeria in Wiscasset.

In 1977, Al purchased Red's Eats on Route 1 in Wiscasset. His hard work, engaging personality and insistence on quality food and service turned a small roadside food stand into an icon in the state of Maine.

Although the business of Red's Eats was a large part of Al's life, his family and many friends played a greater role. He was devoted to his children, grandchildren and great-grandson and as a result formed a bond among them which is seldom seen in today's world.

Al's interests included showing his boxer dogs, music, singing, luxury cars, antique autos, traveling with friends and family, playing cards and enjoying life to the fullest. He was a large man with a large appetite and a roaring laugh who spread love and laughter wherever he went.

Al is survived by two daughters, Deborah Cronk and her husband, David, and Cynthia Collamore and her husband, Rex; two sons, David Gagnon and his wife, Debbie, and Joseph Gagnon, all of Wiscasset; five grandchildren, Ashley Gagnon, Sara Gagnon, Cassandra Fairfield Bickford, P.J. Fairfield and Christopher Fairfield; one great-grandson, Bryan Gagnon; six sisters, Simone Gilbert, of Standish, Lillian Colby and her husband, Leroy, of Wiscasset, Janet Steeves and her husband, Merle, of Standish, Isabel Lewis and her husband, Vincent, of Boothbay, Patricia Grant and her husband, Edward, of Wiscasset and Cheryl Squires and her husband, Steven, of Portland; two brothers, Ralph Gagnon Jr. and his wife, Joyce, of Wiscasset, and James Gagnon and his wife, Lucille, of Newman, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Daigle Funeral Home, 40 Federal St., Wiscasset. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Newcastle. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Wiscasset. A gathering of family and friends will follow at Al's home on Birch Point Road.