John R. Auchter

"Palmer- John R. Auchter, 88, of 39 Meadowbrook Lane, Palmer, died on April 21st, in the presence of family after a long, courageous battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Born on May 1, 1922, in Springfield, Massachusetts, John was the last survivor of five brothers. He graduated from Amherst College in 1947 after having served three years of active duty in CAC, AUS- New Guinea for 18 months and the Philippines for six months as a Corporal and Battery Clerk, with Distinguished Unit Citation. John earned his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 1950, and practiced law locally for well over fifty years, beginning as an associate for his father's law firm, Ellis, Auchter & Brooks, and most recently serving as Of Counsel to his daughter Sarah's law firm. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964 and the U.S. District Court in 1965. John had many affiliations over the course of his life, including, but certainly not limited to, Goodwill Industries of the Springfield/Hartford area (Director since 1952; President 1961-67 & '73; Chairman of the Board 1974-75), the Meadowbrook Green Condominium Association (Director since 1999; President 1999-2001; Secretary since 2010) , the Palmer Downtown Partnership, Inc., the Council of Churches of Greater Springfield, the New England District Exchange Clubs (District Director 1982-85), Exchange Club of Springfield (President 1959-60) and Exchange Club of Suburban Springfield (since 1985; past Director, awarded life membership in 1998), the Home Builders of Western Massachusetts (Member 1952-98; Director 1956-58, President 1978; General Counsel 1958-97) and the Quaboag Valley Chamber of Commerce (Co-Founder and Member; Director 1978-96; President 1978-81). He served as a Justice of the Peace, officiating at hundreds of marriage ceremonies. In support of challenges faced by several of his children, John was a member of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and member of the Governor's Commission on Legal & Civil Rights of Developmentally Disabled, the Epilepsy Society of Massachusetts, and he initiated the Susan Auchter Memorial Kidney Fund in 1966 to establish the Susan A. Auchter Renal Service at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield Hospital Division. John was a lawyer (hyphen) poet who authored many poems and published Between You And Me, selected short poems, Malcom Burton Press 1977. He also authored articles in numerous Massachusetts and American Bar journals, and he was a columnist for The Law and You in Turley Publications, from 1994-1996. John was the recipient of many distinguished honors, including District Marbles Champ in West Springfield in 1936, Battalion ping-pong champ at Milne Bay, New Guinea 1944, Lifetime Achievement Award- Home Builders Association of Springfield, 1992, and numerous recognition from Goodwill Industries, where his portrait was installed on the Wall of Recognition at Goodwill Industries International, in Bethesda, Maryland in 2003. John had a wonderful singing voice and a vibrant personality, and he brought smiles to the faces of those who had the pleasure of meeting him. He will be deeply missed by his five children, Richard H. Auchter, Eileen V. Barrett, Ellen L. Auchter, John L. Auchter and Sarah A. Miller; his five stepchildren, William B. Wood and his wife Diane, Laurie A. Allen and her husband David, Carolyn Ludorf and her husband Steven, David R. Wood and his wife Christine Pellegrino, and Susan D. Racicot and her husband Paul; nine stepgrandchildren and one very special grandson, John Patrick Auchter. He now joins his wife, Norma Jean Auchter, and his daughter, Susan A. Auchter. John's family would like to thank the Quaboag Valley VNA & Hospice and the Second Congregational Church of Palmer for their caring and dedicated support. At John's request, there will be no calling hours; however, a Memorial Service will be held on John's birthday, Sunday, May 1st, at 2pm at the Second Congregational Church of Palmer, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Quaboag Valley VNA & Hospice, the Second Congregational Church of Palmer, Goodwill Industries, or a charity of choice- as John stated, people will give where they are inclined to give. Amen! "