Albro Foster Cowperthwaite Sr.

    Cowperthwaite, Albro F. Sr., 90, July 29, 2011.  Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
    HOULTON – Albro Foster Cowperthwaite Sr., 90, of Houlton died July 29, 2011 at Houlton Regional Hospital after a brief illness.
    Albro was born in Monticello on April 8, 1921, son of Abner and Velma (Foster) Cowperthwaite. He married Marion (Staples) of Minot on June 4th, 1941. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
    Albro attended Monticello schools and Higgins Classical Institute in Charleston, graduating in 1938. While at Higgins, he worked in the kitchen learning to cook great food from scratch. Following graduation, he cooked at the Rangeley Lake Hotel summers and then on Collier Island in Florida during the winter. He met Marion in Florida where she was working as a waitress. In 1942 they opened Al’s Food Shop in Auburn and, as business grew, they opened five additional restaurants in Waterville, Newport, Presque Isle, Caribou and Houlton. In 1952, they purchased a motel and campground at Crescent Park on Nickerson Lake in Houlton.
    In the 1960s, they liquidated most of the restaurants and the campground and focused their efforts on the Houlton location and formed Statewide Caterers. Over the next 25 years they catered to banquets, weddings and other functions from Kittery to Fort Kent. Their motto- “Catering for 1 person to 5,000.” All their food was homemade, and with their children working by their side and the help of many very dedicated employees, the result was a very successful family business.
    When not in the kitchen or catering, Albro enjoyed trips to the horse track and visiting his camp, “Almaneke” located at Harvey Siding where he liked to catch trout and play “63” with family and friends. After 45 years of serving food, they retired in 1986 and enjoyed many winters at Daytona Beach.
    Albro has been a member of Kora Temple in Lewiston for nearly 70 years. He was a member of the Houlton Rotary Club, Houlton Jaycees and Chamber of Commerce.
    Besides his loving wife Marion, he leaves daughter Mary Cowperthwaite and 3 sons and their wives, Kevin and Janet (Small), Neil and Pamela (Stuber) and Albro Jr. and Linda (Reardon). Albro has 8 grandchildren who affectionately call him “Grampy Donut” due to his famous glazed donuts. They are Ellen, Kim, Martha, Jonathan, Catherine, Anne, Jennie and Jacob. He also has 10 great- grandchildren: Lauren, Courtney, Kate, Elizabeth, Jack, Sylvia, Max, Quinn, Brody and Brennan.
    He was predeceased by brother, Bernard Cowperthwaite and sister, Ethelyn Cowperthwaite.
    The family wishes to thank Dr. Aboulish and the wonderful staff at Houlton Regional Hospital for the care and support given to Albro and family.
    Following his wishes, there will be no memorial service. The family will have a private graveside service at a later date. He requested that donations be given in his memory to Shriner’s Children Hospital or to any charity of choice c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton, ME 04730. For online condolences and guest book please visit www.dunn funeral.com.