Newburyport - Dr. Alan D. Cormier, 77, of Newburyport died at his home on January 8, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.

Alan was born February 16, 1945 to Ernest J. and Florence L. (Vienneau) Cormier in Lynn, MA where he was also raised. Alan pursued an education in chemistry first as an undergraduate at Northeastern University, then earned his PhD in chemistry from University of New Hampshire and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Marquette University.

After a short stint as a chemistry instructor at Boston University, Alan embarked on what would become a notable career in blood gas chemistry. Throughout his 30+ years in the medical diagnostics field Alan contributed to a number of scientific advancements regarding blood gas analysis including the first ever artificial blood control, the first available Lithium analyzer for psychiatrists, and many other advancements too numerous to list. Alan was awarded many patents and awards during his long and productive career, but his most important professional contribution was as a smart, generous, and high integrity colleague and friend.

Alan took pride and joy in fatherhood –building model trains and remote control cars with his son Philip, coaching his daughter Renee's soccer team for many years, taking his children on many trips and adventures, and taking every opportunity to torment them with his (often) terrible puns . He imparted on them his passion for life, learning and staying true to oneself and values. As a grandfather, he loved to read with his grandchildren and teach them things even if they didn't know they were learning something.

After retirement Alan pursued his passion for woodworking, crafting a prolific number of decorative pieces and furniture for family and friends and as a volunteer for Lowell's Boat Shop and Museum in Amesbury, MA where he led classes and their volunteer training program. Throughout his life Alan was an enthusiastic hobbyist pursuing a variety of interests including hiking (he climbed all of NH's 4,000 footers), woodworking, beekeeping, candle making, stained glass, tennis, photography, astronomy, and travel. He was able to combine his love of photography, astronomy, and travel by viewing total solar eclipses, of which he viewed 15 in his lifetime. The eclipse travel brought Alan and his wife Paula to all four corners of the globe and introduced them to many new friends (he never really met a stranger and enjoyed talking to people wherever he went). Alan loved sharing his enthusiasm for his interests with others and always jumped at an opportunity to mentor others interested in learning more – he loved teaching others almost as much as he loved learning.

While Alan loved to travel – there was no place he loved more than his family camp in Maine on Milton Three Ponds. He loved that he was able to spend summer there as a child and was later able to provide that same experience to his children and enjoyed spending even more time there after retirement.

He was predeceased by his father, Ernest Cormier, his mother, Florence (Vienneau), and his brothers, Norman and Richard Cormier.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Paula (Dube) Cormier of Newburyport; his son, Philip and his wife, Shannon (Webster) Cormier of Newburyport; his daughter, Renee Tily and her husband Peter of Amesbury, MA; his grandchildren, Maia, Holden and Finley Cormier of Newburyport; his sister Suzanne LeJeune of Ipswich, MA; his sister-in-law, Patricia (Griggs) Dube; his nieces Andrea (LeJeune) LaRiviere of Cobden, Ontario and Denise (LeJeune) Mootafian of Ipswich, MA; his nephews, Stephen LeJeune of Manchester, NH, Shane Hubbard of Hayden, ID, Kenny Esdra of Salem, MA and more many family and friends the world over.

Per Alan's wishes, a private Celebration of Life will be held in the coming weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lowell's Boat Shop and Museum at 459 Main St Amesbury, MA 01913.

Visit www.kentandpelczarfh.com to sign an online guestbook.