Aubuchon remembered for leadership
By Caitlyn Kelleher and Karen Mann JOURNAL REPORTERS

William Aubuchon Jr.

He will be remembered as a pillar of the community, a smart businessman and a committed family man.

William Aubuchon Jr., the long-time president of Aubuchon Hardware Stores, died Monday at the age of 91. Aubuchon, who retired from his position as president in 1993 after more than 40 years behind the desk, grew his family business into a 136-store chain.

"Bill was an extraordinary business leader in this community," said David McKeehen, the President of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and a Westminster resident. "He was so involved in everything for many years and a hell of a businessman. … He was a great community citizen."

McKeehan said Aubuchon's impact on the community is both in the business world and also in the civic environment.

"He grew that business from 30 stores to 130 stores," McKeehan said.

He said Aubuchon was able to develop and sustain a family business in the "Home Depot age."

Aubuchon suffered a stroke three years ago and his health had declined over the course of the last month.

"He was very family-orientated with his wife, his five children and the greater Aubuchon family," said his son, William E. Aubuchon III, the Chief Executive Officer of the hardware company. "He took a lot of pride in knowing the store's employees."

Aubuchon started to visit all of his stores three times a year, including a purely social visit during the holiday season. There was no business discussed during that meeting, said his son.

"He was always a gentlemen," said Fitchburg Mayor Dan Mylott, a former neighbor of Aubuchon. "He was a regular guy and had a nice word to say to everyone."

Westminster Board of Selectmen Chairman John Fairbanks said the family has been very generous to the community for a very long-time and that Aubuchon was a "pillar of the community."

The 400,000 square-foot distribution center for the company is located in Westminster.

Aubuchon, a Fitchburg resident, was heavily involved in civic organizations throughout the region.

His son said he was one of a number of residents that will be remembered as honest, having a high-standard of intergrity and authentic.

"He's very well remembered as being a true and wonderful human being," said his son. "He earned his own legacy."

He was a charter member of the Serra Club of North Worcester County; he served on the Board of Trustees of the Burbank Hospital 1973-1993; he was Trustee of the George Wallace Civic Center; Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Notre Dame High School; Director of the YMCA; and President of the United Fund.

Aubuchon was named as one among "100 Who Have Made a Difference" during the Centennial Convocation at Fitchburg State College in 1994.

"He just exemplifies community service and civic engagement," Fitchburg State College President Robert Antonnucci said. "When you think of a family that has made a difference in Fitchburg, you think of the Aubuchons."

"He really gave of himself, not just his money, his time and talent. He really gave his life to Fitchburg," said Mylott.

He graduated from Assumption Preparatory School in 1934 and Assumption College in 1938.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Signal Intelligence Corps, stationed in Australia and the Philippines.

William E. Aubuchon III said his father and then other men of his generation came back to this country with great confidence and a great will to succeed after the war.

"They had done an enormous job," he said.

He always remembered his heritage.

"He had a lot of respect for his French- Candian roots," said his son.

In 1982 he was a founder of the French Institute at Assumption College, where an award in his name was established in 1995.

In addition to his professional career, Aubuchon gave extraordinarily of his time to civic and religious causes. He served 12 years on the Assumption College Board of Trustees and was its first lay chairman.

"He was a giant at Assumption, a pillar in his community, and a man of tremendous faith," said Assumption College President Francesco Cesareo.

In 1965 Gov. John Volpe named him to the first Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts State College System, where he was instrumental in the then-innovative use of bond financing, which was the foundation of the system's expansion. During his eight-year tenure the 11-college budget quadrupled to $61 million.

Fitchburg State and Worcester State Colleges both honored his achievements with honorary degrees.

"He was a visionary about higher education, and specifically public higher education," said Antonnucci. "He was a business man who was very successful, and at the same time he wanted to give back to the community."

He noted his work on the state college board, and also as the creator of the state college building authority.

"The vision he had then is the vision at all nine campuses now," Antonnucci said. "We're stronger due to his involvement and his vision."

He became a Knight in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1983, participating in the Order's annual pilgrimage to Lourdes eight times. He was invested in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in 1984, where he was elevated to Knight Grand Cross.

He was Eucharistic Minister at the Highlands Long Term Care Center; and a parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Church for 60 years.