NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Aldem A. "Al" Trottier, 85, of Manchester, N.H., passed away on Monday, September 26, 2016, at the Genesis HealthCare facility in Manchester.

He was born in North Adams, Mass., on February 16, 1931, son of Aldem A. and Roseanna (Decoteau) Trottier. He attended local schools and graduated from Drury High School in 1949.

In 1953, he graduated cum laude with a major in economics from Norwich University, Northfield, Vt., where he served as a Cadet Captain and Company Commander in the prestigious military school's Corp of Cadets. He also served as president of his social fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, was a member of the senior society Skull and Swords, the Signal Honor Platoon, the Inter Fraternity Council, and was elected to the Corp's Honor Committee, which administered the university's honor code. He was also designated a Distinguished Military Student and was the recipient of the ROTC Efficiency Medal. Lastly, he was named in the 1953 edition of "Who's Who's in American Universities and Colleges.” Subsequently, he authored a book titled "A Selected History of Norwich University 1819 to present".

From Norwich, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Signal Corp and served in active duty as Operation Officer 5th Army Headquarters Communications Center, Chicago, Ill. In 1955 he received an Honorable Discharge with rank of 1st Lieutenant.

He then joined Sprague Electric Company in North Adams in the Wage and Salary Administration Department. He went on to other positions as Manager of Publications, and Human Resource Manager at Sprague plants in Concord, N.H., and Worcester, Mass.

In 1969, his family moved back to North Adams where he joined the Berkshire Bank and Trust Co's Pittsfield,  Mass., operations, where he served until 1976 as Manager of Human Resources.

He and his family then moved to Manchester, N.H., where he joined Bank East Corporation to manage their Human Resource Dept. as a Vice President until his retirement in 1991. Throughout his career, Al served communities in a variety of ways in leadership positions in various Chambers of Commerce, and United Way organizations

Upon retirement, he and his wife Faith lived in Cape Cod, Mass., and wintered in Venice, Fla. In 1999 they returned to Manchester to be with their family year round.

Al was an avid reader of history and a lover of classical music and opera. He enjoyed outdoor activities including canoeing (he canoed the length of the Connecticut River), hiking, camping, sports, carpentry, and helping others when needed and serving as the as the patriarch of his loving and grateful family. Al lived his life with honor, dignity, and with respect for others. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

In addition to his wife of 63 years, Faith (Mancini) Trottier, he leaves his daughter Melodye Trottier Crockwell and son Craig Trottier and his wife Cynthia L Trottier, who all reside in the greater Manchester, N.H., area; his son-in law, Thomas Jones of Columbia S.C.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. 

He is predeceased by his beautiful daughter, Paula (Trottier) Jones, who was tragically lost in July 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Al Trottier will be celebrated on October 4, 2016, at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish located at 70 Marshall Street, North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview cemetery. Calling hours will be held the same morning from 9-10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of Paula Trottier Jones may be made to the Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or by phone at 800-805-5856