Bathurst - Lorne Poitras, 71, husband to Marie (Belanger) of Bathurst passed away peacefully on Thursday August 6, 2009, after a brief illness with cancer at the Chaleur Regional Hospital. Father to Lorna of Moncton, Burton (Susan Tower) of Moncton and Marc of Edmonton and his grandchildren Nicholas son of Marc, Christopher and Allison children of Burton and Susan Tower. He is also survived by: His two brothers; Maurice of Grand Falls and Philip of Toronto. One sister; Anne Marie Leblanc of Rhode Island. He was pre-deceased by two brothers; Burton and Jean Paul. He was retired from School District 7 as a music coordinator and was renown as a wonderful musician and organist at Holy Family Church. He was, in the past, music director and organist at the Anglican and the United Church in Bathurst. Lorne began his music career very early in life in Grand Falls and was accompanying school choirs at the age of 6 years old. He studied at Boston Conservatory and at St Vincent d'Indy in Montreal and continued doing summer programs at Mount Allison University in Sackville in orchestration. Lorne returned to Bathurst to teach music and then became the music coordinator of both districts. He was the founder of the instrumental programs at ESN and BHS schools. He fought hard to get a good music program in the 2 school systems and was very proud of all the music teachers he coordinated within the system. He was an extraordinary musician who could direct Choirs (Rotary Choir, Centennial Choir, Church Choirs) and accompanied many soloists in the City and beyond. He read and interpreted music with ease, ad lib on the piano like a professional and heard a false note among 100 people singing or playing instruments in a band. He was, for many years, President of the Bathurst Music Festival and President of the Bathurst CAMR now the Community Living Association. His favorite hobby was his garden. He was so proud of the work done in his many garden at home. He would stare out at the garden and just appreciate every flower, tree or bush that he had planted year after year. He loved the winter trips with his wife to Florida and Arizona and looked forward very year to visiting family and friends. He was also a member of the 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, Holy Family Parish and the NB Retired Teachers Association. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, August 10 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 at Elhatton Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com) Bathurst. Funeral services will be held from Holy Family Church at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. Donations can be made to the Bathurst SPCA or the Cancer Society or to some favorite charity. He will be sadly missed by everyone.