PITTSFIELD -- Ival "Bud" Cianchette, one of the four founding fathers of Cianbro Corp., died Thursday night at the age of 83.

Cianchette, president of the huge construction firm during its largest growth period of the 1970s, had been battling cancer.

Peter Vigue, the company's president, chairman and chief executive officer, expressed sympathy for the family.

"It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of one of our founders, a friend and colleague," Vigue said.

Cianchette's death leaves one surviving member -- Kenneth Cianchette -- of the company's founders. The eldest of the four brothers, Carl E. Cianchette, died in 1977, while Alton "Chuck" Cianchette died when the small Cessna plane he was piloting crashed in Kentucky, in 2000.

Sen. Susan Collins also expressed her condolences to the Cianchette family.

"Maine has lost a wonderful man with the passing of Bud Cianchette," Collins said. "He was an extraordinary leader in Maine's business community and a devoted family man, who made countless contributions to his community and our state.

"All of us who were lucky enough to call him a friend will miss him dearly, but his legacy will live on for many years to come. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Priscilla, and the entire Cianchette family during this difficult time."

Though Cianbro maintains operations throughout the Northeast, the brothers resisted moving its corporate offices out of their hometown of Pittsfield.

The seven children of Raphael and Edna Cianchette also contributed greatly to their beloved alma mater, Maine Central Institute. Two buildings on the stately campus bear the Cianchette name.

Bud Cianchette, a 1944 MCI alumnus, was a charter member of the MCI Hall of Fame in 1983.

A memorial service for Cianchette will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church, adjacent to the campus, with public seating at Wright Gymnasium. A reception will follow in the dining hall.

Paul Bertrand, MCI trustee and retired Cianbro employee, worked with Cianchette for decades.

"I worked for Bud Cianchette for 45 years," Bertrand said. "Bud's feelings about MCI were the same as those which he had for his business. He cared deeply about MCI, as does the whole family, and he was proud of the campus and the outstanding education the school provides.

"Bud often said to me that 'the kids in the area are pretty lucky that they can get an education at Maine Central Institute, which is as excellent as any school in the country.'"

MCI Headmaster Chris Hopkins knew Cianchette for a much shorter time.

"I was fortunate enough to meet Bud Cianchette this past fall, and have heard from so many people at Maine Central Institute, Cianbro and the surrounding area what an impressive human being he was and how dearly he loved and was proud of MCI," Hopkins said. "The school is honored that events surrounding the celebration of his life and accomplishments will take place on the Maine Central Institute campus."

Former Morning Sentinel editor and writer Ann McGowan chronicled the Cianchette family and Cianbro in her 1999 book "Cianbro -- The First 50 Years."

McGowan said Cianchette was "very well thought of in Pittsfield." He and his brothers worked well together, she said.

"If you wanted a definition of a perfect partnership, Bud and his brothers were it," McGowan said. "Bud was the detail person. He was a perfectionist."

Cianbro employees can freshly recall Bud Cianchette's compelling statements last month, during the company's 60th anniversary celebration in Pittsfield. In failing health, he told more than 400 employees that he had led a "charmed life."

"In my obituary, if anyone writes one, it should say, 'the luckiest man in the world just left us,'" Cianchette said. "If you feel sorry, you can't feel sorry for me. If all of you are as lucky as I've been, you're just going to have a great life, because I certainly have."

The Cianchette brothers pooled savings from their World War II military service to begin Cianchette Bros. Inc.

Later during last month's ceremony, Cianchette recalled those early days.

"Father had a six-inch pump and a two-inch pump, some wheelbarrows and hand shovels that were left for Carl," he said. "That's what we started the company with. It's grown a little. You look at the equipment list, and they've added some things to it over the last 60 years, for sure."

Cianchette recalled the company "just grew and grew and grew."

In 1980, he became president of the Associated General Contractors of America.

He also was a former chairman of the Maine Harness Racing Commission.

Cianchette hired Vigue in 1970.

"Bud hired me as a construction worker, and served as an example of what leadership means, and what it means to pursue high standards and to insist on excellence," Vigue said. "The image of our company was always a strong focus for Bud, and he was extremely proud of Cianbro's success."

Cianchette is survived by his wife of 57 years, daughter Susan Koch and sons Thomas, Earle, Mark and Peter.

Larry Grard -- 861-9239

lgrard@centralmaine.com