Richard "Brig" P. Brouillard, 79, of Brooklyn beloved husband of Theresa (Gorman) Brouillard, passed away Friday, (December 31, 2004) with his family by his side. He was born on January 20, 1925 in Danielson, the son of Rosalba and Joseph Brouillard. He graduated from St. James School in 1938, Killingly High School in 1942 and the New Bedford Textile Institute in 1953.

He served his country honorably for three years during World War II on active duty with the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, serving in the European Theatre of Operations.

He married his wife of 52 years, the former Theresa Gorman of Brooklyn on June 21,1952.

He began employment with the American Thread Company in Willimantic in June of 1953 in corporate research. He was named Assistant Super-intendent of the Filament Synthetic Division in 1965, a position he held until the close of the Willimantic plant in 1985.

He then became employed by the Judicial Department of the State of CT, Family Services Unit, as a support investigator, a position he held until his retirement in 2001.

Brig's life was characterized by his devotion to his family and community. He gave countless hours of his time to various organizations. He was one of the founders of the Brooklyn Little League, served on the Brooklyn Board of Education for many years serving as its chairman and also as a member of two school building committees.

He was also a member of the Brooklyn [CT] Board of Finance. He was chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Town Committee for 25 years, one of the longest serving tenures in Connecticut politics. He was also a member of the Democratic State Central Committee from the 35th Senatorial District.

He was honored in 1996 by being chosen as a presidential elector, casting one of CT's eight electoral votes for President Clinton.

He was also a member of the Danielson Federal Savings and Loan Association Board of Directors for 20 years and served as a trustee of Our Lady of LaSalette Church in Brooklyn for 35 years.

Brig resided for 52 years on Barrett Hill Road in Brooklyn where he raised his four children, who survive him: Mark and his wife, Donna of Brooklyn, Kevin and his wife,

Elizabeth of Niantic, Eileen and her husband, Bruce Strouse of wife, Thera of Watertown, MA.

He is also survived by his five beloved grandchildren, Justin of Boston, MA, Shayna of New York City, NY, Leslie of Brooklyn, Angus of Watertown, and Riley of Niantic. He was also predeceased by five brothers, Ernest, Euclide, Al-phege, Raoul, Lucien "Lou", Ovide; and two sisters, Eva and Annette Theroux.

Throughout his personal and professional life, he was loved and respected as a kind and fair-minded man who always put the interests of others before his own.

Funeral from Tillinghast Funeral Home, 433 Main Street, Danielson on Wednesday at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of LaSalette Church, Brooklyn. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson [CT] with Full Military Honors.

Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Our Lady of LaSalette Church, 25 Providence Road, Brooklyn, CT 06234.
[Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Monday Jan 3, 2005, Main Edition, Page B04]

Richard was interred in Section E, Lot 17, Grave 6, Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson (Windham), CT.

He registered for the draft on 20 Jan 1943 and enlisted in the Army at Hartford, CT on 27 May 1943.

SSgt Brouillard was transferred from 82nd Airborne Division to Hq 2nd, 508 PIR on 27 October 1945.

His military decorations include the Good Conduct Medal.