Leonard Charles Faucher

Leonard C. Faucher

*Entrepreneur, Educator, Innovator*

Leonard C. Faucher passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025, at the age of 78, surrounded by those who loved him. A man of intellect, creativity, and quiet determination, Len's legacy lives on in the many lives he influenced as an educator, entrepreneur, and visionary in both business and technology.

Born on November 8, 1946, in Manchester, New Hampshire, Len spent his early childhood in that city, attending St. Raphael's Catholic School. At age six, his family relocated to Waltham, Massachusetts, where he continued his education and graduated from St. Patrick's High School in Watertown. Determined and self-made, Len worked his way through college at the Boston Conservatory, earning a degree in music education. A classically trained percussionist, Len had a deep love for classical music and especially enjoyed attending summer concerts of the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood in the Berkshires.

He began his professional life as a high school music director while simultaneously pursuing a master's degree in music education. After 14 years of inspiring students in the band room, in the classroom and on the football field, Len made a bold move-cashing in his teacher's retirement and entering the business world. He purchased an office supply store called Mercury Office Machines in Newton Corner, Massachusetts, and in just five years transformed it into OfficeLand, a successful franchise of 26 stores throughout the Northeast. His innovative model drew national attention, and Len became well-known in the office products industry for his fresh approach to retail.

After a hostile takeover by a large competitor, Staples Inc., Len didn't retreat-he reinvented. He launched Office Oasis, a company that pioneered the use of CD-ROM technology for wholesale office supply ordering, setting a new standard in the industry.

Never one to stand still, Len later founded PictureCom and the International Center for Distance Learning, early innovators in the use of live videoconferencing for real-time, point-to-point synchronous learning-well before such tools became part of daily life.

Later, Len founded Franchise Companies LLC, a business consulting firm specializing in franchising. He also spent six years as a professor at Houston Community College, where he shared his expertise and experience with the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Outside of work, Len found joy in traveling across the United States in an RV trailer with his wife, their two dogs, and cat-especially through the magnificent landscapes of the American Southwest. Among his most cherished international destinations were Venice, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, places he returned to with fondness and wonder.

Len was predeceased by his grandparents, whom he dearly loved, and by his father, Leo Faucher. He is survived by his devoted wife and best friend, Sarma Taylor, with whom he shared a life rich in love, intellect, and purpose. He also leaves behind his three children-Len Faucher Jr., Lisa Gilbert, and Kimberly Karras-his mother, and three of his four siblings.

Leonard C. Faucher was a true original-thoughtful, inventive, and always ahead of his time. He will be deeply missed and long remembered.