New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
During the month of August, the 24th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of Domina Horace Surprenant, formerly of New Bedford, who served in U.S. Navy during WWII.
Domina, also known as “Dom” for short, was born and raised in New Bedford, son of the late Domina and Aurore (LeDuc) Surprenant. He attended St. Joseph and St. Anthony elementary schools and enlisted in the U.S. Navy before graduating from high school.
He entered into the U.S. military on Sept. 14, 1944, in Boston, at the age of 17 and served as a Carpenter’s Mate, 3rd Class. According to his family, Dom was given the nick-name “Soupy” while in the military, which was short for his last name, Surprenant. Upon completing his military service, he was honorably discharged on June 27, 1946 and received the following awards: The World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal.
According to his obituary, Surprenant completed his high school education at Manta Hall in Cambridge and went on to attend college at Brown University.
He was the husband of the late Claire F. (LeComte) Surprenant. They had eight children; three daughters and five sons; whom they raised in Mattapoisett.
Mr. Surprenant was the original founding owner of Muffler and Brake System, Inc. located in New Bedford. According to his family, at one time he owned a chain of 5-7 Muffler and Brake stores around Southern New England.
Dom and his wife Claire eventually moved to Dartmouth, MA and then to Cape Cod. His life’s devotion was to his family and friends. He enjoyed traveling and visiting his children and grand-children, throughout New England, and wintered in the Florida Keys for many years.
Surprenant passed away at the age of 81, thirteen years ago, on August 21, 2008. He is survived by his three daughters: Diane Stevens Pontiff and her husband Jeffrey of New Bedford, Suzanne Chouinard and her husband Jean of So. Dartmouth and Rachel Poulin and her husband Robert of Rochester; five sons: Marc Surprenant of Cohasset, Domina Surprenant of Chesuncook, ME , Robert Surprenant and his wife Diana of Surry, NH, Charles Surprenant and his wife Ellen of St. Albans, ME and David and his wife Luisa of Chesuncook, ME; 28 grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was the father-in-law of the late David J. Stevens, Sr. and Bambi R. Surprenant and brother of the late Rolande Payette Talbot, Laurier Surprenant, Vivianne Surprenant, Claire Jodoin, Conrad Surprenant and Dr. Edgar Surprenant.
Linda Ferreira, of Empire Ford of New Bedford, researches the life histories of area residents. American flags are provided by Empire Ford of New Bedford. Flags are raised by the staff at Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum. Those who would like to honor a local veteran in the future can contact Ferreira at lferreira@buyempireautogroup.com.
Thanks for doing the piece on Dom, Michael. My boys never met him, but they’ll have articles like this to remember him by. Thank you.