Bertrand Lambert (1936 – 2022)

PHILLIPS – Bertrand Lambert passed away at his home in his sleep the morning of January 7, 2022. He was 85.
On Oct. 16, 1936, Bert was born in Rumford, to Alyre and Irene Lambert. The way he would tell the story to his grandchildren, his birth put an end to the Great Flood of 1936. Once he was born, the rain stopped, and the sun came out.

Always a storyteller, Bert graduated from Stephens High School in 1954 and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in forestry from the University of Maine in Orono. Wanting to live in the Western Mountains, Bert and his wife moved to Phillips in 1961 to take a teaching job at Phillips High School. The following year, he took a job with MaineDOT, working full time as project engineer on highway construction projects including the Route 4 bypass in Phillips.
Bert always kept himself busy; in addition to working for the state for 33 years, he was also self-employed as a land surveyor and later as a consultant for over 50 years. Bert was proud to hold professional licenses in engineering, land surveying and forestry. He was a Retired Charter Member of the Maine Society of Land Surveyors.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bert was even prouder of his family.
In the summer of 1959 on a Friday night, he asked Sylvia Gagne to dance. The next year they got married and went on to have just what Bert said he wished for: first, a little girl, and then a boy.
Bert was an avid skier and runner — he loved the outdoors. As a family, they would ski every weekend, and when there wasn’t snow on the ground, they would go camping or swim in the brooks.
His mind was a trove of historical research that he gained from his extensive reading of nonfiction. Bert had a particular interest in the founding fathers, and he shared his knowledge and passion for history with his grandchildren.
Most people who knew him loved his stories. He would keep his audience in fits of laughter at the dinner table all night, sometimes even making himself laugh too hard to finish the story. Many also turned to Bert for advice — he was always willing to share his wisdom.
Bert is survived by his wife, Sylvia Lambert; his brother and sister-in law, Leroy and Claire Lambert; his sister-in-law, Lorraine Labbe; his daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Kevin O’Leary; his son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and Paula Lambert; his three favorite grandsons, Ryan, Dylan and Eric Fotter; his three favorite granddaughters, Annika, Jenna and Katrina Lambert; and his nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Girard and Geraldine Lambert; and brother-in-laws Ed Gagne and Ray Labbe.
The Lambert family would like to thank everyone who provided so much support to their family and to Bert throughout his illness since 2010. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Phillips Public Library, P. O. Box O, Phillips, Me 04966.
A Graveside Service will be held later this year at the Mile Square Cemetery in Avon. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington, ME 04938.