Exeter Food Pantry Worker Cleo Castonguay Dead at 71

EXETER, N.H. - Longtime Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry volunteer Cleo Castonguay has passed away at the age of 71. According to Seacoast Online, Castonguay had been involved with the organization for more than 30 years and was the driving force in the center growing from a small food pantry to a full-scale community assistance center.

“Cleo’s efforts ranged from beginning an opioid counseling effort with the assistance of Catholic Charities to finding shelter for the homeless,” Exeter Police Chief William Shupe said. “He was instrumental in the partnership that we have with St. Vincent de Paul. Cleo clearly understood the role of the police department and he saw to it that we knew he was there for assistance with a person in need. Cleo was a man with a heart bigger than he was.”

St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Molly Zirillo said aside from his generosity, Castonguay was known as an eager collaborator who sought to bring like-minded people together to look to solve problems facing the less fortunate. She said the 175 regular volunteers of St. Vincent de Paul Exeter relies on to help deliver services, kept coming back to help in no small part because of Castonguay’s ability to unite people and get them pulling in the same direction.

Among the numerous accolades Castonguay received through the years, he was awarded the inaugural Citizen of the Year Award by the Exeter Chamber of Commerce in 2012. He was known for his involvement in other community organizations and causes such as the Boy Scouts of America, the Exeter Christmas Parade, Red Cross Disaster Relief and the Feed My Lambs soup kitchen.

On Facebook, the The Society of St Vincent de Paul Exeter posted about Castonguay.

"Today we mourn the loss of our beloved Board President, Cleo Castonguay. Funeral service details to be forthcoming.As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, the Castonguay family requests financial contributions be made to The Society of St Vincent de Paul Exeter, PO Box 176, Exeter, NH 03833."

For more information, visit www.svdpexeter.com

To read the full article, visit Seacoast Online.

Courtesy Photo / The Society of St Vincent de Paul Exeter