Joseph A. Gregoire

Joseph A. Gregoire 80, of York, Maine passed away peacefully April 4th, 2025 surrounded by the family he held so dear. Joe grew up in Lowell, MA and was the son of Helen P. (Ralls) Gregoire and Al Gregoire and brother to the Late Edward Gregoire and David (Mickey) Gregoire. Joe was a self-starter from an early age, beginning as a bagger at Alexander’s Supermarket, bagging groceries earning his way up the ranks as Store Manager at Alexanders. This was a career suited for Joe’s outgoing and friendly personality, always greeting people throughout the store, creating relationships with customers that lasted decades. Joe was known for giving people chances and would often hire people or teens in town that he saw promise in. Joe would impart all he knew on them so they could also climb the ladder within the Grocery Industry. Joe was a “first one there last one to leave” type of guy. He was often seen building displays or bagging groceries when there was a need. Joe also brought innovation to the grocery industry by being the first grocery store in the 1980’s to sell fresh cut fruit in cups for customers, then expanding their floral department with house plants. First offering 5 then before he knew it, stocking 40 houseplants a week. Be sure to think of Joe the next time you grab for that fresh fruit or a cute plant at the grocery store. Although the grocery business was Joe’s passion, nothing ignited Joe’s passion more than meeting his wife Judy and getting married in 1962 sharing 62 loving years together. Joe and Judy certainly had a robust social life through the years, always hosting or attending parties at which time you could see Joe’s extraordinary dance moves if Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner came on. Those who knew Joe well, will remember witnessing moves like they had never seen before, at which time Joe seemed to turn into a contortionist right there on the dance floor bringing joy to so many. If the grocery business and meeting Judy were Joe’s passion, then Joe’s extreme passion later on in life would be the love for his daughter Jodie. Joe was often heard yelling her name out on softball and soccer fields. Joe then continued that extreme passion for his 5 Grandchildren Laila, Emma, Cole, Luca and Peyton Adawadkar, as he was often found clapping the loudest at many plays, concerts, soccer  and baseball games for the 5 people he cherished so very much. The dancing didn’t stop as Joe aged. Joe was known to have the music pumping and hosting dance parties along with Judy, during the countless sleepovers with their grandchildren offering them an incredible childhood filled with thousands of incredible memories.  

During Joe’s last months he formed many incredible relationships with staff including Physician’s, Nurses, Clergy,  and Cleaning staff and practically anyone wearing a York Hospital Name name tag as that was who Joe was, the constant Grocery Store Manager connecting the social dots wherever he went.  

Joe leaves behind his incredible wife Judy (Spellissy) Gregoire, his beloved Daughter Jodie Adawadkar and her husband Samir who served as Joe’s constant care giver and friend throughout the last 6 months of his life. His grandchildren Laila US Coast Guard Academy, Emma University of New Hampshire, Cole, Luca and Peyton, brother in law Arthur Kidd of Nashua, Bernie and Donna Spellissy of Lowell, MA, Kathy and Bill Muzbeck of Myrtle Beach and several nieces and nephews that Joe always enjoyed hearing about. Joe’s legacy has left an indelible print on his family and they will continue dancing and connecting the social dots in Joe’s name.  

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