Albert French, Jr.

Albert French passed away peacefully at his home in Gorham, New Hampshire on December 7, 2022. He is best remembered for his passion for teaching and playing chess and for his many years serving the community through his work at the Gorham Post Office.

Albert was born as the eldest son of Albert and Lucie French on November 26, 1955. His little sister Cecile and younger brother John were born soon after. As his father was serving in the Armed Forces, the family time was split between living in Gorham when their father was stationed overseas, and staying near the different Army bases when he was stationed stateside. These travels took the family to Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort Knox in Kentucky, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and Fort Sheridan in Illinois. The family was finally able to settle full time in Gorham after their dad’s retirement at the end of the Vietnam war.

After graduating from Gorham High School in 1975, Albert himself joined the Air Force, and after serving four years, he joined his brother John in Houston where he graduated from the Houston Police Academy and served briefly in the Houston Police Department. He then went on to earn his Associate’s Degree from Columbia Basin College in eastern Washington state in 1987, and his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Washington State University in Spokane in 1993. Returning to Gorham when his parents' health began to decline, Albert started working with the Gorham Post Office. His passion for chess led him to volunteer at the high school, the Gorham Recreation Center and the State Prison. He was ranked among the top players in northern New England in his time with the New Hampshire Chess Association.

Albert’s passion for chess was accompanied by a general love of learning, and a devotion to the outdoors, hiking, golf and cycling. He was a black belt in Judo; he loved to box and he lifted weights with the Spartan Weightlifting Club. He was a gifted artist, and he loved animals. He loved games of any kind. He often spent time at the Northwoods Charitable Gaming Casino in Berlin, and had a special enthusiasm for Texas Hold’em! He loved people and sharing his knowledge with them. No one was ever a stranger to Albert. He lived the motto “Pay it Forward” in his words and in his life. He is survived by his brother John and sister Cecile, his matante Julienne Cote and mon oncle Arthur McGee, many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a community full of friends.

In keeping with Albert’s love of paying it forward, please feel free to make any contributions you wish in his name to the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. The family would like to invite the community to attend a celebration of Albert’s life at the American Legion Hall at 6 Androscoggin Street in Gorham on Thursday, December 29, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please join us there!

A Graveside ceremony with Military Honors will take place Friday, June 9, 2023 at 1pm at the Holy Family Cemetery, Church Street, Gorham.

Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.bryantfuneralhome.net