SOUTHWICK: Art Boissonnault (1931 – 2021) waved his final farewell to wife Joan aka JB, son Bruce, family and friends on December 22, 2021. He
met his wife, the love of his life, in 1950 when she was 14 and he was 18. Parental permission was required for their wedding two years later on Groundhog Day 1952. They were in love for more than 70 years and his last wish was “to hold her hand” after which he said his goodbyes.
Born to the late Sirice and Euclida (Plouffe) Boissonnault on October 9, 1931, he never lost the mischievous little boy inside. He laughed contagiously, and when telling a joke, he would laugh so hard that he couldn’t finish the punch line.
In 1948, he joined the U.S. Navy where he oversaw shore leave assignments on the USS Maury, making him a popular fellow indeed. He founded the Russet Potato Chip Company (purchased by State Line) with his brothers and retired from Rand Whitney Container (owner Robert Kraft) where he held packaging patents and became an enthusiastic Patriots fan.
Upon retirement, he founded Southwick’s channel 15 where he worked for nearly two decades to “let the people know what’s going on in town”. Channel 15 is perhaps best remembered for “Conversations With Art B.”, his homespun talk show with Southwick town leaders and citizens. As station general manager, chief interviewer, videographer and mail clerk, he said, “I don’t like to ignore anything that is going on, whether it be an important meeting or a school play.” He served on numerous boards and was president of the Westfield Boys and Girls Club and the Southwick Lions Club. As president of the Westfield Boys Club, and with enthusiastic support from JB, he shepherded early adoption of groundbreaking new rules allowing girls to join what is now the Boys and Girls Club. Art and wife JB also developed the “Southwick Flags on College Highway Program”. His awards include the 2004 Southwick Grange Citizen of the Year, 2005 Rotary Club Vocational and Community Service Award and 2006 Democratic Committee Democrat of the Year Award.
He leaves behind his loving wife Joan, his son Bruce (Joan), grandchildren Alex and William, Arthur (Karen) Conner who was like a son to him, friends Karen and Eugene Reardon, and many more friends and extended family members. He was predeceased by his three brothers Bernard, Ronald and Gilbert, his sister Cecile Fleury and Paul Conner who was also like a son to him.
The family is forever in debt to the Southwick Senior Center, neighbors, friends, and the Southwick community for all of your help in recent years. He and JB couldn’t have done it without you. Donations may be made in his memory to the Southwick Senior Center or the Westfield Boys and Girls Club. When you want to remember Art, it would have made him happiest for you to go have a cup of coffee or raise a glass with a friend and share a story to toast a life well lived.
His burial with U.S. Navy military honors will be held in a private service at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam.
