Bernard L. "Bernie" Boutin

Bernard Boutin

MEREDITH - Bernard L. Boutin, 88, of 77 Barnard Ridge Road, Meredith died at the Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia, on Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
Mr. Boutin was born July 2, 1923 in Belmont, the son of Joseph L. and Annie E. (LaFlam) Boutin.
He was a longtime resident of the Lakes Region and had attended the Belmont public schools and was Senior Class Valedictorian. He attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. from 1942-1943 and graduated Ph. B (Cum Laude) and Valedictorian from St. Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont in 1945. In 1963, he received an honorary degree, LLD, from St. Michael's College. He received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, in 1969 and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Plymouth State College of the University of New Hampshire in 1970.
Mr. Boutin was a partner of the Boutin Real Estate Company from 1945-1963, President and Treasurer of the Boutin Insurance Agency, Inc. from 1945-1963 and partner of the Busy Corner Store from 1956-1959.
Mr. Boutin served two terms as Mayor, City of Laconia, from 1955-1959. He was the Democratic Nominee for Governor of New Hampshire in 1958 and 1960 and was in charge of the John F. Kennedy Campaign for President in the 1960 NH Primary. From 1956-1960 he was a member of the Democratic National Committee.
Mr. Boutin was appointed by President Kennedy as deputy administrator, General Services Administration, Jan. 1961 to November 1961 and then was appointed by President Kennedy as administrator, General Services Administration, Washington, D.C., Nov. 1961 to Dec, 1964. Among other positions, Mr. Boutin also served on the President's Advisory Council on the Arts and the First Lady's Committee for a More Beautiful Capitol.
In 1964, he was co-coordinator of Johnson for President for New England States and New York. From 1964-1965, Mr. Boutin was Executive Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders, Washington, D.C. In 1964, he was co-chair, with Gregory Peck, of one of the Presidential Inaugural Balls, Washington, D.C. In 1965 and 1966, President Johnson appointed Mr. Boutin as deputy director, The Office of Economic Opportunity, Washington, D.C., and then appointed Mr. Boutin as administrator, Small Business Administration, Washington, D.C. from 1966-1967.
From 1967-1969, Mr. Boutin was director, Corporate Information Services and member of the President's staff of Sanders Associates, Inc., Nashua, and was consultant to the company from 1969-1976. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Indian Head National Bank, Nashua, from 1967-1969, a member-at-large of the National Advisory Council, Small Business Administration, in 1968 and 1969, as well as a member of the Resources Panel (consultant) of the American Bankers Association. He was also a member of the N.H. Coordinating Board of Advanced Education and Accreditation and chairman of the New Hampshire State Board of Education in 1968 and 1969.
From 1970-1972, Mr. Boutin was on the Board of Directors of HI-G Inc., Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and was on the Board of Directors of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corp. from 1969-1974. He was a member of the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee, U. S. Dept. of Transportation in 1969 and 1970, appointed by President Johnson.
Mr. Boutin was President of St. Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont from March 1969 to November 1974. He was executive vice president of Burlington Savings Bank from May 1975 to August 1976, president of the Burlington Savings Bank, Burlington, Vt., from August 1976 to October 1980, and on the Board of Directors, First Deposit National Bank of San Francisco from September 1991 to January 1994.
Outside of his professional career, Mr. Boutin devoted his life to service. He served on boards of medical facilities, educational institutions, business development organizations and Catholic charities and committees. Mr. Boutin was also an advocate for the handicapped and for the preservation of historic sites and the reclamation of surplus federal lands.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Alice M. (Boucher) Boutin, of Meredith; six sons, Edmund J. and LindaAnne Boutin of Chester, Joseph L. and Dale Boutin of Burlington, Vt., Louis B. and Carole Boutin of Bedford, John P. Boutin Winooski, Vt., Paul R. Judy Boutin of Colchester, Vt. and Bernard L. and Gay Boutin II of Fremont; five daughters, Bernadette A. and Bruce Fischer of Colchester, Vt., Michelle A. and Dennis Lamper of Meredith, Marie J. Boutin of South Burlington, Vt., Elizabeth J. and John McGrath of Manchester, Vt. and Suzanne T. Boutin of Rochester; 23 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and four nephews and two nieces. In addition to his parents, Mr. Boutin was predeceased by two sisters, June Fitzpatrick and Lorraine Morin.
Calling hours will be held at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services on 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, on Monday, August 29, 2011 from 4-7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday August 30, 2011 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 300 NH Route 25, Meredith, by the Very Reverend Dennis J. Audet, V.F., Pastor of the Church.
Burial will be at the family lot in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Garfield St., Laconia, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Boutin Family Scholarship Fund at Saint Michael College or to the Building Fund at St. Charles Borromeo Church.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.