HOBE SOUND, FL — Emory Joseph “Joe” Boucher, 78, of Hobe Sound, Florida, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2020. He was born May 27, 1942 in Troy, New York to Emory and Doris (nee Fuller) Boucher. He attended Stillwater High School and St. Peter’s Academy in Saratoga Springs, where he graduated in 1960.
After high school Joe joined the United States Air Force. He served eight years as an Aircraft Engineer, including during the Vietnam War. He spoke little about his experience as a Veteran, but in later years he wrote that his job was to fix airplanes while in flight—often with bullets whizzing past—at least once dangling from a wing as he fixed the landing gear.
During his military career Joe was stationed in Texas, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and briefly, Japan and Germany (he returned to Germany several times in later years). After the military he moved with his former wife, Rose Marie (nee Natale) Boucher and their three daughters, Michelle, Sheri and Renee, to San Diego. The family spent many wonderful years in California where Joe worked as a contractor leading projects large and small, from award-winning condos in La Jolla to a ski resort atop Heavenly in Lake Tahoe.
On the weekends Joe could be found with his daughters at the park or the beach, riding motorcycles, horses, picnicking, having fun. He was a wonderful father—loving, gentle and generous—dearly loved by his daughters and their friends, most who called him Dad.
Joe was great company, with a marvelous dry wit. He loved music, was an avid reader and a terrific storyteller. He was an incredible cook and enjoyed creating new dishes—bouillabaisse was a favorite—for friends and family.
Joe spent the past 18 years in Hobe Sound, Florida, where he owned and operated a property management business.
Joe was predeceased by his father, Emory Boucher, Mother, Doris Boucher, his brothers Edward (Ann Marie) and Michael (Flo) Boucher and his former wife, Rose Marie Boucher.
He is survived by his daughters Michelle Hill, Sheri Loftis and Renee (Richard) Boucher Ferguson, of Saratoga Springs, his second wife, Sharon Weslowski of El Cajon, CA, and his partner of 20 years, Karin Ryan, also of Hobe Sound. He is survived by siblings Tim (Joanne) Boucher of Bradenton, FL, Patricia Boucher Flike of Bemis Heights, and Tom (Joanne) Boucher of Stillwater. He leaves behind seven grandchildren, Nicole and Adam Hill of Queensbury, Cody Loftis of Hayden, ID, Waylon (Kandice) Loftis of El Cajon, CA, Liza Boucher Ferguson of Oxford, UK and Saratoga Springs and Cormac and Cole Ferguson also of Saratoga Springs, and seven great-grandchildren.
Emory Joe Boucher will be interred at the Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Earl J. Manning American Legion, Post 490, Stillwater, NY.
