Restaurateur Paul Gervais, 64

Paul E. Gervais, 64, of Brewer, the former owner and manager of Paul’s Restaurant and Speakeasy in Bangor, was remembered by his competition Monday as “a real gentleman and a hard worker.”

Gervais died of cancer at his home on Monday. He was born March 26, 1943, in Caswell, the son of George and Olympe Gervais.

He served as Maine Restaurant Association president from 1982-1983. Sanford “Sonny” Miller, former owner of Miller’s Restaurant in Bangor, remembered him as a good competitor.

“Whenever I called him and asked a question,” Miller said, “I got a straight and honest answer.”

Gervais’ honesty served him well throughout his life. While studying at Husson College in Bangor, Gervais worked at Cole’s Express as a bookkeeper.

Galen Cole, owner of Cole’s Express, remembered him as a “fine young man from the County” and an “outstanding recruit.”

“We were in need of a bright and honest person from within the organization to run the 95er Restaurant. He did an outstanding job there,” Cole said.

Gervais was assistant manager and then manager of the 95er Restaurant until 1975, when he took over the business and renamed it Paul’s Restaurant and Speakeasy. Paul’s was a constant on Hogan Road for 29 years.

In 2004, a muscle disease, sarcoid myopathy, caused Gervais to retire and close the restaurant.

Before he retired, Gervais built the Chocolate Grill on the Old Town Riverfront. The restaurant is now called the City Park Grille. It is run by his wife, Martha, and two of his sons, Paul Jr. and Alexander.

Gervais is also survived by his daughters Babette and Allison and his son George.

Even after his retirement, Gervais kept working in the community. He often served food at Bangor Rotary Club meetings.

Cole said that his company worked with a lot of young men, “but none were better than Paul Gervais.”