Obituary: Gilman Michaud
Gilman Michaud, 81, of Cumberland, Maine, Dies After a Life of Family, Work and Water
CUMBERLAND – Gilman Michaud, a lifelong resident of Cumberland and a well‑known local entrepreneur, died on September 12, 2026, surrounded by his family. The 81‑year‑old was born March 5, 1945, in Fort Kent as the fifth of ten children to Joseph and Egline (Bernier) Michaud.
Michaud’s early years were steeped in the values of hard work that would shape his lifelong career. After graduating from high school, he moved to Connecticut, where he married his sweetheart, Betty Rioux, on July 3, 1965. The couple returned to Southern Maine in 1972, where they would raise a family and build a business legacy that included several real‑estate ventures and the Panther Run Marina on Sebago Lake – an operation managed jointly by Gilman, Betty, his son Phil, and daughter‑in‑law Julie.
A quiet man by nature, Michaud demonstrated his love for his family through steady, practical acts rather than grand gestures. He spent his summers on Moosehead Lake, where he would cook for camp friends, and his winters snowmobiling with Phil on Portage Lake. His favorite fishing trips were to Caucomgomoc Lake, a place where he would often leave the canoe capsized in a playful jest.
In his final year, Michaud lived at Legacy Memory Care. Despite the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, he was known to staff for his warm smile, kindness, and willingness to help anyone who needed it. His gentle spirit remained a bright light in the facility even as the disease progressed.
Michaud is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty; daughter Jodi Federle; daughter‑in‑law Julie (Cox) Michaud; grandchildren Lee and Quinn Federle; granddaughters Alicia Michaud and Marissa Larson (both married); and the families of his siblings Mildred, Joel, Frieda, Clifford, and Judy. His son Phil predeceased him in 2025, along with brothers Benton, Harold, Milton, and Lester. A large extended family of nieces, nephews, and great‑nieces and nephews also mourns his passing.
The Michaud family has asked that instead of flowers, donations be made in Gilman’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research program of the BrightFocus Foundation, located at 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871. He also requested that any tributes be posted on the Lindquist Funeral Home online guestbook at http://www.lindquistfuneralhome.com.
A Christian Mass will be held on Friday, October 2, at 11 a.m. at Holy Martyrs Church in Falmouth, followed by a burial at the same site. Family members, friends, and community members are invited to attend the service and celebrate the life of a man whose quiet dedication to family, business, and the waterways of Maine touched many.
Michaud’s life was a testament to the quiet strength that can be found in everyday acts of love, hard work, and the simple pleasures of the great outdoors. His memory will live on in the countless stories he shared on the lake, in the smiles he offered to those in need, and in the enduring legacy of Panther Run Marina.
