William Edouard Aubuchon Jr., 91
Was Aubuchon President

FITCHBURG - William E. Aubuchon, Jr., 91, of 22 Atlantic Ave., died Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, at home surrounded by his family following an illness.

He was born on Aug. 13, 1916, in Fitchburg, the eldest son of William E. and Corinne (Charron) Aubuchon. He graduated from Assumption Preparatory School in 1934 and Assumption College in 1938. Directly following Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served in the Signal Intelligence Corps, stationed in Australia and the Philippines.

In 1938, Mr. Aubuchon joined the W.E. Aubuchon Co., Inc the largest privately owned chain of hardware stores in the country started by his father in 1908. He served as President from 1950 to 1993. At the time of his death he was an honorary director of the company. During his leadership as President the company enjoyed remarkable growth - 43 years of continuous profitability, store expansion from 33 to 136 stores, oversaw its entry into the Maine, New York and Connecticut markets, and development of its current 400,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Westminster. While a "family business" he always regarded everyone who worked in the company as family and was ahead of his time in the retail industry by providing a wide variety of employee benefits. He was so proud of having provided employment for thousands of New Englanders. He was also the President of Aubuchon Realty Co., Inc. from 1950 to 1993.

For many years he served on the board of Shawmut Bank and its predecessor institutions, Worcester Bank Corp. and Worcester County National Bank. He was a Director of the First Safety Fund Bank; President and Chairman of the Board of the I-C Credit Union; Director of Sheppard Envelop, and president of the National Supply Association of the U.S.

In addition to his professional career, Mr. 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. Named in 1965 by Governor John Volpe 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, ending with his Chairmanship of the Board, the 11 college budget rose quadrupled to $61 million. In recognition of his service he was awarded honorary degrees from Fitchburg State and Worcester State Colleges and at Fitchburg State College where a dormitory building was named in his honor.

Among the many other awards Mr. Aubuchon received were the Lafayette Award by the Harmony Club of Worcester, the Distinguished Citizens Award by the Boy Scouts - Nashua Valley Council, the Outstanding Alumnus Award of Assumption College where a building is named in his honor and the Hall of Fame from Assumption Preparatory School.

A man of great Catholic faith, 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 a charter member of the Serra Club of North Worcester County; a Eucharistic Minister at the Highlands Long Term Care Center; and a parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Church for 60 years.

Mr. Aubuchon was very committed to the city of Fitchburg serving on the Board of Trustees of the Burbank Hospital 1973-1993; Trustee of the George Wallace Civic Center; Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Notre Dame High School; Director of the YMCA; President of the United Fund. Mr. Aubuchon was named as one among "100 Who Have Made a Difference" during the Centennial Convocation at Fitchburg State College in 1994.

Mr. Aubuchon was an avid bridge player throughout his life. He instilled in his children a love of history and travel, taking them on many adventures throughout the country and the world.

He was mindful of his Franco American heritage and in 1982 was a founder of the French Institute at Assumption College, where an award in his name was established in 1995. Mr. Aubuchon was a strong financial supporter of the Institute where he established a fund. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the W. E. Aubuchon Fund at the French Institute, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA. 01609.

Mr. Aubuchon is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Camille (Corriveau) Aubuchon; his two sons, William E. III and his wife, Karson of Princeton and Donat and his wife, Eileen of Shrewsbury; three daughters, Mariette, wife of Dr. James Young of Lee, N.H.; Laure of New York City and Anne Celeste, wife of Michael O'Rourke of Stamford, Conn.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Claire Moran and a brother, Peter Aubuchon, both of Fitchburg. He was predeceased by a sister, Denise Ouellette and two bothers, Maurice and Bernard Aubuchon.

The wake will be held Friday, Nov. 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. at Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Road, Fitchburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 59 Walnut St., Fitchburg.