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Conrad Norman Charles Gagné was born January 11, 1912 in St. Jean sur Richelieu, Quebec, Canada. He died at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 29, 1999. Conrad's parents were Francis Joseph Gagné and Jennie Roy Gagné. His mother's family founded Roy, New Mexico. An older brother, Leroy Gagné, died in childhood. Ruth Cayton Gagné, his wife of fifty four years, died in 1994. A younger brother, Roland J. Gagné and his wife, Stasia of Nashua, New Hampshire survive. Also surviving are his daughter, Nancy S. Gagné and his son, Norman L. Gagné and his wife, Jane, all of Albuquerque, and grandsons, Andrew Darren Gagné and his wife, Alyssa Tomoff of Seattle, Washington, and Matthew Norman Gagné of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Conrad came to the United States at the age of nine. He spoke only French. His formal education ended in the ninth grade. As a young teenager, he worked as a cabin boy on a ferry boat on Lake George in upstate New York. At the age of seventeen, he began work as an office boy for Aetna Casualty & Surety Company in Hartford, Connecticut and retired forty-three years later as Controller of the Denver Regional Office of Aetna. Conrad and Ruth raised their children in Westminster, Colorado. In the 1950's he served on the Westminster City Council and as acting Mayor. He served in other community activities there, including working with the volunteer sheriff's patrol and the rescue unit. He was a longtime Mason and was Master of Westminster Lodge #176 AF&AM. Conrad was a veteran of World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Finance Corps in England before the Normandy invasion and in France afterward. Following his retirement, Conrad and Ruth lived in Ft. Myers, Florida and Hendersonville, North Carolina before settling in Albuquerque to be with their children and grandsons. In Albuquerque, Conrad proudly served as a volunteer at Presbyterian Hospital, working at the Information Desk with his friends and especially with his regular partner and best friend, Max Smith. During the last six months, Conrad lived at The Grand Court, a retirement apartment. He had many fine friends there. In accordance with his wishes, Conrad has been cremated. His remains will join Ruth's in a private family gathering. An informal celebration and remembrance of Conrad's life will be held February 6, 1999, 3:00 p.m., at The Grand Court, 300 Valencia, S.E. Friends of Conrad are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember him are encouraged to make contributions to the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, Volunteer Services, P.O. Box 2666, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125-6666 or to a charity of choice in Conrad's memory. Conrad lived a long and full life. His gentle, kindly and cheerful manner touched all who knew him. Toward the end, he expressed contentment with his life. In his final days Conrad was embraced by his family and comforted by his caring physicians, Michael Donnellan, M.D. and Kathleen Blake, M.D. We were blessed to know and love him and to learn from him. We are grateful for his constant example of humor and wit, intelligence and wisdom, calmness and serenity, grace and charm, and kindness and caring.
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