Henry was born in Brunswick on March 23, 1929, a son of Raoul and Rose (Lambert) Gosselin. He attended St. John’s Catholic School in Brunswick, St. Francis Academy in Biddeford, and St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. He achieved his Masters in Journalism from Boston College.
He served in the Army in the Korean War from 1951-1952, retiring with the rank of Sergeant Major.
He was the editor and coowner of the Somerset Reporter in Skowhegan in the 1950s and 1960s, when he gained a reputation as a crusading journalist. He was the first New Englander ever to be nominated for the national Ira K. Lovejoy “Courage in Journalism.” He was elected president of the Maine Press Association.
In 1968 he was appointed the editor of Church World, Maine’s Catholic weekly newspaper, by then-Bishop Peter L. Gerety. Under Henry’s boundless enthusiasm, the paper soon became the standard bearer for the Catholic press in the United States. After 10 years it had garnered so many Catholic Press Association awards that Henry stopped entering the annual competition so that other papers would have a chance to win.
During his 26-year tenure, Henry received countless honors and recognitions from Catholic groups and organizations for the voice he gave them through the newspaper. A 1987 Down East magazine article dubbed the “quietly outspoken" editor “The Bishop’s Man, But Nobody’s Pawn." Henry said, “We don’t seek controversy, but we don’t shun it either.” He also received an award from the Maine Council of Churches for championing interfaith dialogue. Henry was modest, always insisting that awards go to Church World and not to him personally. He once said he thought his greatest talent was recognizing talent in others, and he believed in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In 1992 he received the CPA’s highest honor, the St. Francis de Sales Award for Lifetime Achievement. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from St. Joseph’s College in Windham and from St. Anselm’s College.
Henry is the author of two historical novels: “Clement Gosselin, George Washington’s French-Canadian Spy” and “Eustache Lambert, Donne Extraordinaire.”
He married Claire M. (Bastien) on January 6, 2005.
He was predeceased by his sister Ruth and her husband, Richard.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Claire, of Harpswell; his sister Pauline and husband Phil, of Harpswell; his brother Roland and wife June, of Topsham; his niece and god-child Judy Creel of Oviedo, Fla., and her husband Steve; his nephew and godchild Daniel Gosselin and his wife Diane of Topsham, hisgod child Patricia Moses and her husband Larry of Danbury, CT; and 10 more nieces and nephews and their families; and three stepsons and their families.
He also is survived by lifelong friend Col. George Boucher (Ret.), of Anderson, S.C., who was his commanding officer when he served in the Korean War.
Henry loved life. He considered almost everyone he met a friend. He was well known for his graciousness and hospitality, which included lobster feeds at his home by the water. He enjoyed sunshine and sailing, especially on his first boat, a Dark Harbor sloop he named the Folly. He was a delightful husband, a doting uncle, devoted brother and generous to all.
There will be no wake. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5th at St. John’s the Baptist Church-All Saints Parish on Pleasant Street in Brunswick. Henry will be cremated and his burial take place at a later date. Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, where memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Henry’s memory may be made to The Vicarage by the Sea, 9 Vicarage Lane, Harpswell, ME 04079; or to Respite Care, 10 Main St., Topsham, ME 04086.
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