David M. Couri

David M. Couri, age 50, of Old Orchard Beach, died at his home on Dec. 6, 2008, of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Born in Biddeford on May 13, 1958, he was the son of Robert J. and Ellen Lombard Couri. He was educated in Old Orchard Beach schools and graduated from Old Orchard Beach High School in 1977. In 1979, he received an associates degree from Southern Maine Vocational Institute in South Portland, now SMCC. He later joined the apprentice program at New Hampshire College through the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

He was a lifelong resident of Old Orchard Beach.

Dave was later employed by the U.S. Postal Service, until his illness forced him to retire. Commenting on ALS, he said, “The more weight I lost the heavier I became.”

He was an accomplished carpenter and craftsman, always working on a project. Dave was a skilled musician and recently recorded a CD of his original jazz compositions. His leisure time was spent walking the streets of his beloved town, riding his bicycle or driving his muscle car. He loved the town, the woods, the tracks and the beach.

He will be sadly missed by all those who have loved him, known him or have laughed with him, including his pug, Maevis Pudge, and his tuxedo cat, Mandy Marie.

Dave is survived by his wife, Regina Sullivan Fontaine, of Old Orchard Beach; her children, Jane Fontaine and her husband, Steven Lynch, of Long Island, N.Y., Carrie Anne Fontaine, James Fontaine and his wife, Ann Albano Fontaine, all of Portland, Jennifer Fontaine, of Gray, Andrew Fontaine, of New York; grandchildren, Sierra Fontaine, Scarlett Fontaine-Lynch, Alexandra Albano-Fontaine, Ruby Fontaine, and Alec and AJ Dodge; his parents of Old Orchard Beach; sister, Lynda Couri Wood and her husband, Richard Wood, of Escondido, Calif.; nephew, Adam Wood of Montana; uncles, James E. and John W. Lombard, and several cousins.

The family would like to thank the Home Health Visiting Nurses of Southern Maine, Southern Maine Hospice and ALS Society for their care and support.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 11) at the Old Orchard Beach Funeral Home.

Those who desire may make Memorial Contributions to the Saco Food Pantry, C/O Mary Tucker, 48 Plymouth Drive, Saco, Maine 04072.