Eugene David Maltais

In New Haven, Feb. 18, 2008, Eugene David Maltais, 85 of Ashland Place, New Haven, devoted husband of Marion Hatton Maltais, father of Dorothy LaFontaine of Syracuse, NY, step-father of Patricia Frazier of New Haven, brother of Janet Sanderson of Hemet, CA, grandfather of Paul LaFontaine and William Frazier, great-grand father of Adriana LaFontaine. He was predeceased by his first wife, Alice Stanning Maltais and brother Robert Maltais. Born in Laconia, NH, July 16, 1922 a son of the late David and Miriam Tyler Maltais. He graduated from West Haven High School in 1940 and enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1942 as a cadet for pilot training. He was commissioned as a pilot in 1943 and joined the 2nd Air Force where he became a B-17 Bomber Pilot. He was sent to North Africa where he flew 50 combat missions over Southern Europe with the 15th Air Force and the 301st Bomb Group, receiving the Air Medal with 10 Clusters. For 45 years he worked as a machining foreman for several area jobbing shops; Beaver Pond Machine Co., SFT Mfg. Co., and Barlo Mfg. Co., Inc. of Branford. In his retirement, Gene worked as a security guard in the SBC George St. Garage for Cognisa Security. Funeral service will be held at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden on Monday, Feb. 25th, at 11 A.M. Burial with Military Honors in Centerville Cemetery. Arrangements with BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 WHITNEY AVE., HAMDEN.