AURELE JOSEPH VIOLETTE

AURELE JOSEPH VIOLETTE (RALPH), passed away Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Lake Mary Fla. Born on July 11, 1941 in Augusta, Maine, he was a son of Aurele and Juliette (Dubois) Violette. Aurele graduated from Cony High School (1959) and Bowdoin College (1963), and earned his PhD in Russian history from Ohio State University in 1971. After his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1969 he continued his dissertation research in Finland. In 1970 he began his 36-year career as a history professor at Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne (IPFW). In summer 2001 he taught one of the first two online courses offered at IPFW. Aurele helped establish the Cathedral Museum and the St. Louis Besancon Historical Society. Aurele was a well-loved baker and cook, a fine craftsman, and an excellent Bridge player and cruciverbalist. A proud descendant of the original Acadians, Aurele was an avid genealogist and leaves behind an extensive family history that will surely be treasured by future generations. Aurele is survived by his loving family, his wife of 55 years, Judie (n‚e Clark); his son, Andrew (Thuy) of Nashville, Tenn.; and his daughter, Stephanie (Brock) Levin of Longwood, Fla.; and by his treasured grandchildren, Ethan and Olivia Violette and Zachary and Zoe Levin. He is also survived by his siblings, Gloria (John) Welch, Donald (Chet) Violette and Priscilla Violette. Aurele is interred in the Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Fla. Contributions in Aurele's memory to the Violette History Scholarship at Purdue University Fort Wayne would be welcome. (Purdue University Fort Wayne, Attn. Development Office, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne (IN 46805-1499). Make checks payable to the PFW Foundation).