BRUNSWICK — J. Roland Bouchard, 82, of Hennessey Ave., passed away peacefully in the company of his good friend, Bob Murphy, on Wednesday, August 22, 2012. Roland was born in Brunswick on May 15, 1930, the son of Edward and Rebecca (Coulombe) Bouchard. He grew up in Brunswick, graduating from Brunswick High School, class of 1948.

Following high school, Roland enlisted in the United States Army. He proudly served his country for four years until he was wounded in Korea on the Chinese front line. Recently he remarked, “it was God’s hand that removed me from that danger zone.” Upon his return to the states, Roland attended Boston University, graduating with the class of 1956. Roland’s love of the English language served him well, landing him a job as the editor of the newsletter at the Massachusetts Motor Truck Association, where he stayed for 11 years. Roland’s love of adventure landed him in Saudi Arabia where he worked inputting data for a joint venture between the US Army and Air Force engineers designing and building “King Khalid Military City”, also known as ‘Emerald City’ in Al Batin. The City was built to defend the north-eastern border of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was designed for an army division of three brigades. When the project was completed in the mid-80’s, Roland stayed on as an office manager. He returned to his beloved hometown of Brunswick in 1995.

Roland said of his life: “I lived a life of assistance to my fellow man.”

He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus, a communicant of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of All Saint’s Parish in Brunswick where he was a faithful Altar Server. In addition, Roland was a proud volunteer at Parkview Adventist Medical Center for more than 7 years. Of his service to Parkview, Interim President Randee Reynolds remarked, “Roland was a member of our hospital family. Every day that he came here to volunteer, which was about five days a week; he was loved by everyone. Roland was such a giving person, such a Christian example of service, people wanted to be around him. That’s the kind of person he was.” Parkview Chaplain, Bob Beaumont adds, “Roland died the way he lived-faithful, loving, spirited, connected. God gave him a smile that illumines the hearts of many.”

Roland is pre-deceased by two sisters: Loretta Bouchard and Lorett Steed, and a brother, Paul Bouchard.

He leaves behind two brothers, Remy Bouchard and his wife Terry of Bowdoin, Albert Bouchard and his wife Fern of CA, a sister, Alberta Scott of NY and a sister-inlaw, Lorraine Bouchard and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 25th, at 9:00am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Pleasant Street in Brunswick, with a reception following directly after in the church basement function hall. To share your thoughts and condolences with Roland’s family and friends, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.