Dr. Alan P. Breau of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and The Villages, Florida, passed away on May 22, 2026, surrounded by his family. At the time of the Super Bowl, Alan was healthy, but he later succumbed to an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.

Born in Gardner on January 8, 1956, he was the son of the late Ovila A. and Alice B. (LeBlanc) Breau.

Alan is survived by his siblings: Robert Breau and his wife Elizabeth of Newburyport; James Breau and his wife Karen of Tyngsboro; Linda Breau-Norman and her husband Arthur of Leominster; and Patricia Evans and her husband John of Gardner. He is also survived by his nephew, Daniel Evans and his wife Anne of Bonn, Germany; his niece, Gabrielle MacLure and her husband Bryan of Suffield, Connecticut; and their four children. He also leaves many cousins in both Canada and the United States.

After graduating from Gardner High School in 1974, Alan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University. He later completed a two-year fellowship at the Harvard School of Public Health. These accomplishments laid the foundation for a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry, where he held director-level positions at several renowned companies.

Dr. Breau was a recognized expert in mass spectrometry, metabolite identification, pharmacokinetics, and bioanalytical chemistry. Throughout his career in both the pharmaceutical and contract research industries, he made significant contributions to his field and was credited with numerous patents and inventions.

Alan loved warm weather and happily retired to The Villages, Florida. Even in semi-retirement, he continued pursuing practical research and developing new inventions. He welcomed visits from family and friends and enjoyed sharing his Florida home with those he loved.

Alan always returned to Gardner for holidays, important family events, and visits with the neighbors and friends he had known since his days on Waterford Street and at Holy Rosary School. He was especially close to his niece Gabrielle and nephew Daniel and took great pride in their accomplishments. He was a positive influence in their lives and took particular pleasure in spoiling them whenever he could.

Alan was an avid fan of all Boston sports teams, especially his beloved New England Patriots. He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of football, including teams, players, coaches, game rules, and even the complexities of NFL salary-cap structures. His friends and brothers frequently relied on him as their football authority.

His favorite Star Wars character was Yoda, whose famous words were: "Do. Or do not. There is no try." Alan lived by that philosophy.

Calling Hours will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Funeral Services will follow from the funeral home with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. in Annunciation Parish, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place, West Brookline, MA 02445. Please reference in memory of Dr. Alan P. Breau.