John Gaucher, P.E.

MILLBURY - John Tyler “J.T.” Gaucher, P. E., 66, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 3, 2021 with his loving family by his side.

He leaves his adoring wife of 40 years, Lisa (MacGown) Gaucher of Millbury, his son John Alexander Gaucher and fiancé Jennifer Lynn Nicoll of Jefferson, his twin daughters Katherine Lee Gaucher of Millbury and Lindsey Gaucher Grant and her husband Clark Grant of Kansas City, MO, his sister Karen (Gaucher) Maguire and her husband Mark of Millbury, his brother-in-law Bruce MacGown and his wife Debbie of Surry, ME, and many beloved cousins, nephews, and great-nieces. He was predeceased by his extraordinary parents John H. Gaucher and Catherine (Stockwell) Gaucher.

J.T. lived in Millbury all his life, leading a stellar civil & environmental engineering career and raising a wonderful family. He graduated from Millbury High School Class of ‘72 where he played saxophone in the band and excelled in track & field. J.T. was initially employed at the Blackstone Wastewater Treatment Plant, and during college he worked at the Amherst Wastewater Treatment Plant. He went on to graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and participated in the Environmental Engineering Graduate Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He became a water pollution control engineer at multiple engineering firms from 1976-1985 before designing improvements to the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Facilities in 1986. From 1986-1990, he worked for many private engineering firms, designing multiple public works, wastewater treatment, and highway department facilities for Charlton and Leicester, MA, and Nashua and Hookset, NH.

In 1990, J.T. became the Deputy Director of Public Works for the City of Woonsocket, RI and held this position for 12 years, spearheading multiple public works projects. In 2002, he became the Director of Public Works for the Town of Hopkinton, MA and held this position for 8 years.  From 2010 to 2017 he served as Director of Public Works/Town Engineer for Webster, Lynn, and Ludlow, MA. He was Senior Engineer at Criterium-Dudka Engineers of Hopkinton, MA until his passing. He was a member of the American Public Works Association, New England Water Environment Association, Massachusetts Highway Association, Worcester County Highway Association, and Woonsocket Elks Lodge.

J.T. and his wife ran a private septic design consulting firm. He was a master civil engineer and excelled at public and client relations, and is renowned among engineering and public works circles across New England.

J.T. was also a true Renaissance & family man. He met his wife on a hot summer day in August 1977 and they have been together ever since. J.T. and Lisa just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on November 30, 2020. He was an avid skier and loved his time on the slopes with friends and family, and enjoyed golfing with business partners. He was a skilled handyman and loved maintaining his family home, cars, lawn, and pool. He was a classic rock & roll fan, and a classic film & TV aficionado. He strived to land seats at Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and Red Sox games for his family and friends. He cherished the ocean and visiting the Maine Coast with his family, and vacationing in the carribean with his wife and friends. He was at home in the outdoors, at the grill, in the pool, on the road, at the office, in his recliner, walking his dogs, and most of all enjoying the company of family and loved ones.

J.T. was a complex man that enjoyed the good and simple things in life. He was an honest, bright, articulate, handsome, compassionate gentleman and your life was better for knowing him. His welcoming presence, calm demeanor, steady hand and kind soul will be sorely missed. Thank you to the wonderful doctors and nurses at CareOne Millbury and Saint Vincent Hospital for their care and compassion during this most difficult time.

As J.T. loved his rescued dogs, Sparky and Bailey, memorial donations can be made to the

Worcester Animal Rescue League 139 Holden St., Worcester, MA 01606 (worcesterarl.org).

J.T.’s ashes will be interred at Central Cemetery in Millbury alongside his dear mother.

Mulhane Home for Funerals is handling arrangements and memorial services will be held at a later date.