Bangor television station WABI, and the Maine broadcasting community in general lost a stalwart in the industry last weekend as longtime producer/director John Beaulieu died at the age of 54.

Beaulieu, who worked at WABI (Channel 5) for 37 years, died unexpectedly of a heart attack last Saturday. To say he was dedicated to his craft would be an understatement, according to his peers and coworkers.

“He wasn’t trying to be perfect, but what was good or acceptable for him was certainly good enough for anybody else who’s produced a game, especially in small market television,” said WABI sports director Tim Throckmorton. “We’re just so lucky to have had him for so many years.”

A Bangor native, Beaulieu began working at the station as a production assistant during his senior year at John Bapst Memorial High School. He also attended Husson College in Bangor.

During a career that landed him an induction into the Maine Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, he took on other jobs such as directing and editing everything from commercials to public service announcements and shows, to special telecasts. Despite his wide-ranging area of involvement, it was no secret what his favorite projects involved.

“I don’t know how much of a percentage of his stuff was sports, but everyone around here knew how much he loved sports,” Throckmorton said. “When he produced a game, that was his forum for what he enjoyed doing. He’s not doing it mechanically, as a lot of people do their jobs.”

Beaulieu’s list of honors and awards bears that out as he won numerous ones such as Thomas Kane, Broderson, and MAB, and Maine Associated Press awards. He was also a finalist in 2002 in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Community Service Emmy competition.

“The way he did things, he had everybody else working to the best of their ability as well,” said Throckmorton. “Right now, without John around the building, we’re all looking at each other trying to figure out what to in some respects, partly because of his loss, but also the loss of what he did so well.

“We all knew how to do the things John did because most of the people here have been here awhile, but the care and nurturing he took with the events we put on the air, we all have to try and fill that void somehow.”