Douglas E Boucher

Douglas Edward Boucher, of Bethlehem, CT passed away peacefully on September 15,
2025 at Waterbury Hospital after a long illness. He was born on May 6, 1960, the third
child of the late Ronald George Boucher and Catherine (Verrastro) Boucher.

An avid and dedicated lifelong educator, he advocated for science and technology. He
was a science teacher in the Connecticut Technical High School system as well as an
adjunct chemistry teacher at Mattatuck Community College and UCONN Waterbury.
During his teaching career he also worked as a bartender, waiter, cook, dishwasher, and
construction worker over the years.

Douglas coached track, basketball, and tennis. A music lover, who attended many a
concert, he played guitar and encouraged his children’s love of music.

During his retirement, in addition to cherished time with his children and grandchild,
Doug enjoyed trivia nights at Sunset Grille, Yard Goats baseball games, and the weekly
card game.

In 2007 Douglas suffered a ventricular tachycardia, but his tennis partner D’Arcy Dorman,
a professor of geography at Central Connecticut State University, administered lifesaving
CPR. Mr. Boucher survived and flourished thanks to medical technology, specifically from
an internal medical defibrillator (which delivered a therapeutic electric shock at least 8
times over the years) and powerful drugs. One of the drugs worked well for his heart
disease, but had toxic side effects to his lungs, causing pulmonary fibrosis, causing his
labored breathing late in life and eventual death.

He is grateful that he got another 18 plus years of life that saw his children grow into
adults, the birth of his granddaughter Julia, from his son Douglas Joseph and his wife
Jihane and saw his own daughter Gabriela become a very successful student scientist.
They gave him great comfort in his final years.

In addition to his children Douglas and Gabriela, Douglas is survived by his mother
Catherine, his brothers Ronald and Robert, and Lori, his sister.

Douglas was not sad, but grateful to be a part of this planet at this time in history.
“This is the only planet with life that we know of, so cherish it.”