Arthur Jolin Bouchard of Latham, New York, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 5, 2008, after a long illness. Art was born on May 2, 1924 in Watervliet, New York, to the late Anna Wallingford and Wilfred Bouchard. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in Troy in 1942. He volunteered for the army and entered the service in January 1943. Art completed basic training at Camp Upton in Temple, Texas, and tank destroyer school at Camp Hood. He was a member of the 48th Combat Engineers, Company C. He
served as a Demolition Specialist in North Africa, Germany, France, Italy and Austria. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern service medal with bronze arrowhead and the good conduct medal.
Art was in Germany when World War II ended. While stationed there, he and his unit wrote and published a book called We the 48th, which Art also illustrated, including the maps. Art received an honorable discharge in October 1945 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Art attended Siena College in Loudonville and Troy Business College, where he graduated in 1948 with a degree in Accounting. He married Elizabeth Anne Gilmartin of Troy, NY on May 3, 1952, at St. Josephs Catholic Church in South Troy. Art worked as a pressman for the Troy Record newspaper, a payroll master for Republic Steel in Troy and the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation in Watervliet, then as an income tax auditor for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance in Albany for twenty-two years, retiring in 1986.
Art was a communicant of Saint Ambrose Church in Latham. He was a member of the American Legion in Halfmoon, Post #1450, and the Watervliet chapter of the Catholic War Veterans. Arts interests included a love of books and reading, especially early American history and exploration, local history and art, browsing libraries and book stores, keeping up with current events, drawing and painting, finding arrowheads, touring museums, doing crossword puzzles, watching movies, gardening, fixing things, visiting with his seven grandchildren and attending their baptisms, first Communions, plays, games, concerts, recitals and graduations. His granddog Lucy was usually lying at his feet or on his bed. Art enjoyed going often to his two favorite restaurants, the 76 Diner and Saltys Pub.
Art lost his beloved wife Betty on January 30, 1995, after forty-three years of marriage. They had the opportunity to travel to Ireland, Hawaii, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, Maine, Washington, DC and Canada. Art loved his family, and was very proud of his five children. He was the devoted father of Joseph (Laurie) Bouchard of Gansevoort, Dr. Edward (Jenny) Bouchard of Lutz, Florida, Elizabeth Bouchard, John (Barbara) Bouchard and Michael (Melissa) Bouchard, Esq. of Latham. Arts pride and joy were his grandchildren, Madeline and Grace Bouchard of Gansevoort, Nicholas Bouchard of Lutz, Florida, Matthew and Jessica Bouchard and Alexander and Christopher Bouchard of Latham.
Art babysat his grandchildren, took them places, read stories, played games, drew and colored with them, comforted tears, met schoolbuses and fixed snacks. He was there for their first day of kindergarten. Art had a great sense of humor. He met his final illness with courage and acceptance.
Art was the brother of Wilfred (Frances) Bouchard, Jr. of Watervliet, the late Francis (the late June) Bouchard of Magnolia, New Jersey, Joseph (Mary) Bouchard of Troy, and Robert (Mary Alice) Bouchard of Brant Lake. He was the brother-in-law of Sister Clara Gilmartin of Latham, Joseph (the late Anna Mae) Gilmartin of Troy, Helen Gilmartin (the late James) McBride of Schenectady, the late John Gilmartin and the late William Gilmartin of Troy. He was the son-in-law of the late Mary Flynn and Edward Gilmartin of Troy. Art is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Special thanks to Aunt Mary and the Sisters of Saint Joseph at the Provincial House, Pat, Ernie and the staff of Community Hospice, Father Kevin Daly of Siena College, George and Nancy from the 76 Diner, Shane and Chelsea from Saltys Pub, and the many others who cared for Art and who helped him and his family make this transition as comfortably as possible.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial mass at Saint Mary of the Angels Chapel, Siena College, Loudonville, on Saturday, April 12th, at 10:00 am (greet family; mass at 11:00 am). Interment will be held at Saint Josephs Cemetery, Troy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Arts memory to Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York, P.O. Box 5782, Albany, New York 12205, or Community Hospice of Rensselaer, 295 Valley View Boulevard, Rensselaer, New York 12144.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"