Barney “Rocket” LaRoche, 100, of Berlin, passed away at his home on Monday October 31, 2016. He was born in Berlin on July 10, 1916 the son of Willie and Juliette (Valliere) LaRoche and was a lifelong resident of the area. At the age of 29 he was drafted into the U.S Army, he served overseas in Germany as a Reconnaissance Crewman with the 6th Calvary Group with the 28th Constabulary Group and the Armored Car Chief in Tactical Training. He owned and operated his own business, Barney's Chevron. He retired and sold the business in 1982. He was recognized and appreciated as Chevron dealer and received an award from N.H. Petroleum Council in 1978.
He began his amateur hockey playing career in 1933 at the age of 17. In 1936, at the age of 20, he was listed among the City of Berlin’s Sports Leaders, the only Hockey player so named among 24 local athletes of the era. Barney was an original member of Monsignor Lauziere’s newly formed Berlin Maroons Team in 1937. The “Rocket” was considered a premier playmaker, although he led the team in scoring six times and ended a 22-year playing career with over 500 goals. He was a member of all five Maroons New England Championship teams in the 40’s and 50’s and a member of the fabled National A.H.A Championship team of 1954. He retired as a player in 1959 and went on to coach the Maroons to another National Championship in 1967. History will record that Barney LaRoche is perhaps regarded as the most beloved and enduring player to ever wear a Maroon uniform. In 1947 Barney agreed to coach Notre Dame High School of Berlin. His first team won the NH schoolboy championship and state championships in each of his coaching years until his retirement in 1961. Barney is credited with fifteen consecutive State Championships which is a standing NHIAA record. Admittedly, the highlight of his coaching career at Notre Dame was winning the New England schoolboy championship at the Providence R.I. auditorium in 1957. A feat never before accomplished by a New Hampshire team.
Barney was a member of the VFW Post 2520 in Berlin and the American Legion Post 36 in Berlin. He loved his cat Jetter, gardening, long rides, family picnics, berry picking and making puzzles. He was also an avid Yankees and Canadian Fan.
Family members include his children; Francis LaRoche and wife Susan Dorval of Berlin; Lucy Weeks and husband Mike Lalumiere of Whitefield and Roxy Thompson and husband Morris of Gorham; 9 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, 11 great great grandchildren; a sister Leona Drapeau of Minnesota; nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife Elinor (Armstrong) LaRoche; a granddaughter Hope LaRoche and 3 brothers, Eugene “Gene” LaRoche Armand LaRoche and Romeo LaRoche and a sister Yvette (LaRoche) Roy.
A Funeral Service will be held Saturday November 12, 2016 at 10 AM at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Friday evening from 5 to 8 PM and on Saturday from 9-10 AM, prior to the service. Interment will be in Old City Cemetery in Berlin. Donations may be made in his memory to the Berlin Health Dept. Home Health, 168 Main St., Berlin Northwoods Home Health and Hospice, 278 Main St., Lancaster, NH, Berlin Youth Hockey, PO Box 571, Berlin, NH or to the Notre Dame Arena, PO Box 338, Berlin, NH.