Robert B. Jolicoeur died at the age of 83 on May 11th in Naples, Florida after a long illness. He was born in Manchester NH in 1925 and was the son of Antonio and Lina Dallaire Jolicoeur. He is a veteran of World War II and served in the Navy aboard the destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, JR. After his service duty, he met and married Lucille Therese Lesmerises in 1947. They celebrated their 62nd anniversary on April 12th•
One of seven children, Mr. Jolicoeur grew up working on the family farm. In 1956, he purchased Lafayette Beverages, a bottling company. He expanded the company's product line to include Pepsi-Cola, Seven-Up, Dr. Pepper, Schweppes, Lipton Tea and several other brands of soft drinks. He later formed TJF Group, Inc. , which included 20 different companies involved in printing, security services, automotive repair and parts distribution as well as real estate.
IN HIS LIFE:His peers recognized his business talent as he was elected to several corporate boards. He served as President of the Vermont-New Hampshire Bottlers Association, President of the New England Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Association, Chairman of the Pepsi-Cola Young Bottlers Association. He also spent time on the national Dr. Pepper Advisory Board. His work with the New Hampshire Grocers Association led to his election as Man of the Year in 1980 by the group.
Mr. Jolicoeur believed in community. His real passion was his charitable and community endeavors. He began a long association with the NH Easter Seals Society in 1962. He went on to chair charitable campaigns for the society in 1963, 1975, 1980, and 1991 when his lead gift and encouragement led to the successful completion of the new Easter Seal Lodge at Hidden Valley in Gilmanton NH. He was the first NH representative on the National Easter Seal Society Board serving as a delegate from 1965 to 1985. He was a National Board Director from 1971-1979. In 1983, the Easter Seal Society of NH dedicated the Robert B. Jolicoeur School in recognition of his work. In 1992, he was named Philanthropist of the Year by the National Easter Seal Society. He was elected to be a member of the Edgar Allen Founders Society by the National Easter Seals Board in 1996.
His work for the community was multi-institutional. As a trustee of the Catholic Medical Center, he co-chaired with his sons Marc and Dennis, a multimillion dollar fund drive to modernize and expand the hospital in 1975. Throughout the years he served as a director of the YMCA, director of the Manches1er Chamber of Commerce, trustee of the Boys Club of Manchester, Chairman of the Board of St. Georges' School, President of the Manchester Girls Club and chairman of their fund drive to construct a pool. Mr. Jolicoeur received in 1984 an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Notre Dame College in Manchester. In 1988 the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America presented him with the Distinguished Citizen Award.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years Lucille Therese Lesmerises; four children - his son Dennis R. Jolicoeur and his wife Mirella of Los Angeles, CA, his son Marc A. Jolicoeur and his wife Jacqueline of Bedford NH, his daughter Diane J. Kenney, of Manchester, NH and his son William R. Jolicoeur of San Jose, Costa Rica; twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph Cathedral, Pine St. Manchester on Monday, May 18, 2009.
Encryptment took place in the Mt. Calvary Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Easter Seals Robert B.
Jolicoeur School c/o Easter Seals 555 Auburn Street, Manchester NH 03103.