Ed's Autobiography

Major (ret.) Edward Joseph Boucher

November 25, 1924 to September 19, 2017

(Ed’s summary of his life, written more than a decade ago)

Born November 25, 1924, Middleborough, Mass, son of Ida and Fred Boucher. Locally employed as a woodcutter, farmhand, factory worker, scoopmobile operator, truck driver and laborer on road construction. Graduated from Middleborough High School in 1942. Attended NYA (national youth administration) aviation engines school in Quoddy, Maine. Served on the Middleborough volunteer fire department in 1941 and 1942.

Joined the Army Air Force in 1943 and was commissioned bombardier-navigator in 1945. Remained in the Air Force Reserve in intelligence and language and later in public information. Served as public information officer for the 9510^th Recovery Squadron based as the Lansing airport during the cold war. Also served as information officer for the Lansing Civil Air Patrol a, an adjunct to the Air Force. Retired from the Air Force reserve in 1984 with the rank of major.

Married Kathryn Ann McCartney of East Lansing in 1948. Graduated from MSU in 1948 and studied Italian at the University of Florence, Italy in 1949. Employed as a heater at the Lindell Drop forge from 1950 to 1953. From 1953 to 1955 employed as treasurer of the Local 724 Federal Credit Union. In 1955 and 1956, employed as investigator for the U.S. State Department in Naples, Italy.

Between 1956 and 1960, employed as assistant treasurer manager for the Lansing Automakers Credit Union. Served as complaint manager for the Michigan Insurance Bureau from 1960 to 1965. In 1960, employed for a brief period as assistant to then Governor Williams., From 1960 to 1977 worked as information specialist for the Michigan Department of Transportation. During that time, organized and directed more than 100 dedications of freeways, information centers, and rest areas, including the dedication of the completion of the Interstate system in Michigan. From 1977 to 1985, served as public information director for the Michigan Department of State.

A member of the Democratic party, ran unsuccessfully for County Drain Commissioner, County treasurer and township treasurer. Also did free-lance writing, wrote a shop column for the Lansing Labor News for three years and, occasionally, on request, a column for Jim Hough, the State Journal Onlooker.

After retirement in 1985, employed as an Italian translator during the installation of the Quad Four engine line at Oldsmobile. Also taught Italian for the Lansing School District, City of Lansing evening schools, and Resurrection catholic school in Lansing. Served as translator for brief periods for Delfield Company of Mt. Pleasant, Ford Motor Company of Detroit, Parmalat Company of Grand Rapids and the Cannamela spice company of Bologna, Italy.

Other schools attended include State Department Communist Strategy school and Foreign Service Institute in Washington, DC, Bombing and Targets School at Shepard Field in Texas in 1952 and 1953, Middlebury College summer language school in Vermont. Also completed four certificates from the University of Siena summer school in Italy for Italian teachers. While in Italy, he worked as an extra in the movie Quo Vadis and as a mule skinner in the MGM movie Teresa.

An avid gardener, he introduced the sol called ‘bull horn’ tomato from Tuscany, Italy to Montague, Michi9gan, where it is still locally grown. A ‘wannabe’ cook, he won several prizes in Oceana county asparagus cooking contests.

For 39 years, he helped organize and was a member of the White River Beach recreational association in Montague, Michigan. He also served as a medical subject for the MSU college of medicine.

He is a member of the Lansing Italian American Club and the Military Officers Association.

By request, his remains are donated to the MSU school of Anatomy.