Robert Edward Raiche Sr.
Born on February 18, 1937 in Manchester to humble French-Canadien immigrants, Bob went on to live a life full of love, leadership, service to the community, and devotion to his own large adoring family. He passed away peacefully of natural causes with his children by his side on June 9, 2024 in Manchester.
Bob was married on October 4, 1958 to Mary E. Duval, and quickly began his hard-working life as a milkman and in the mills. The young couple gave birth to four children in four years, followed by a fifth. While actively involved with his children, Bob also immersed himself in education and public service.
Bob graduated from Nathaniel Hawthorne College with a BA in Political Science and from UNH with a Masters in Public Administration in 1968. He subsequently became a member of the Political Science faculty, and then Dean of Admissions at Nathaniel Hawthorne College.
While only 27 years old, Bob won election as a NH State Representative from Manchester, serving for eight years, and ascending to the position of NH House Minority Leader in 1968. As a state legislator, Bob was a strong advocate for the local community and technical college system, significantly broadening the availability of post-secondary education statewide.
Bob was a Democratic candidate for Governor in 1972. In 1983, Bob co-chaired the NHDP State Convention with all of the presidential candidates. He continued his dedication to the humanitarian causes of the Democratic party throughout his life, receiving the Franklin D. Roosevelt Award from the NH Democratic Party in 2019. Bob was a tireless advocate for the underprivileged.
Bob was appointed as the United States Marshal for the State of New Hampshire by President Jimmy Carter in 1977, serving until 1980. He famously executed on a federal judgment obtained by the NH Civil Liberties Union involving the State's "Live Free Or Die" license plate motto by appearing at the NH Liquor Store on the highway to collect the judgment from cash registers.
While working full-time as US Marshal, Bob took it upon himself to also enroll as a full-time law student at Franklin Pierce Law Center (now UNH Law School). Bob was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1980. His work as a lawyer focused on advocating for the injured, and helping any and all people however he could, whenever they asked. Bob was honored with the "Lawyer of the Year" award by the Manchester Bar Association.
Bob was a member and leader of numerous community and charitable organizations, including Easter Seals, Joliet Club, both the Queen City and Cocoa Beach, Florida Rotary Club, Greater Manchester Aids Project, and the Franco-American Association. He also served as National Chairman of the Board of an international organization known as Partners of the Americas, which fostered relationships between the people, communities, and institutions of Latin America and those in the United States.
Bob was proud of his appointment as Honorary Consul to France. Bob was also a very early advocate of gay rights, notwithstanding his devout Catholicism. He was a man of deep faith, regularly attending Mass as a parishioner at St. Augustin Church, St. Catherine Church, and the Church of Our Savior in Cocoa Beach.
Bob was a gregarious, humorous, vibrant personality, filled with compassion for all. He and Mary had a wide circle of friends, none closer than "the other" Bob and Marie Raiche, with whom they spent many wonderful times in Manchester, on cruises, and as next-door neighbors in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Bob and Mary enjoyed many years in their small community of good friends at "Spray Beach". Bob enjoyed playing golf, cheering on the NE Patriots, collecting political memorabilia and spending time with his many friends.
Most importantly, Bob dearly loved his wife, Mary. He always said that he was the luckiest man in the world to have married her. He was the patriarch of a closely-knit family. He was a role model of faith, family, and service to others for his children and grandchildren.
Bob was predeceased by his wife, Mary, on August 11, 2022, by his parents, Edouard and Lucienne Raiche, by a sister, Lorraine Lavigne, and by a brother, Marcel Raiche. He is survived by his sister, Paulette Auger and her husband, Donald, by his five children and their spouses, Robert E. Raiche, Jr., of Manchester, Denise Raiche-Casinghino and Gary Casinghino of Lincoln, Maureen Raiche Manning and Donald Manning, Donna Raiche, and Kathleen Raiche-Stephens and Gregg Stephens, all of Manchester, his grandchildren, Tiffany Raiche, Sarah Raiche, Chris Casinghino, Mary Casinghino, David Casinghino, Brady Manning, Nolan Manning, Aidan Manning, Hannah Raiche, and Brendan Stephens, as well as five great grandchildren. Bob was predeceased by his brother-in-law and his wife, Thomas and Pat Duval, and his brother-in-law, Daniel Dwyer, and is survived by his brothers-in law and sisters-in-law, Anne Dwyer, Jeanne and Jim Corbett, Kathy Desjardins, Edward and Linda Duval, Patricia Clancy, Virginia and Alan Polios, Theresa Duval, Michael Duval, and Jim and Thoa Duval, all of Manchester, and many nephews, nieces, and other family members.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 10:30 am in St Catherine of Siena Church, Corner of Webster and Hemlock Sts.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Manchester Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, 2 Wall St., Manchester NH 03101.
J.N. Boufford & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
For more information and online guestbook please visit www.bouffordfuneralhome.com