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Les Couture Obituary
1951 - 2024
Les E. Couture, 73, passed away unexpectedly after a long illness. Born in Springfield, MA on May 24, 1951 to the late Rene and Rena (Fountain) Couture, Les grew up in Chicopee, alongside his brothers Norman and the late Jerry Couture. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1969 before earning a BS in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1973. He later received a MS in Training and Development from Lesley College School of Management in 1997. He traveled the world designing speakers and amplifiers as a Manufacturing/Project Engineer for H.H. Scott, and proudly claimed to be the guy to invent the concept of an "off" switch that doesn't actually turn the thing off--just the LED indicator. He then spent from 1978 until his retirement in 2014 at United Technologies, formerly Hamilton Sundstrand, formerly formerly Hamilton Standard in manufacturing engineering and training and development. He spent the better part of 20 years leading up to his retirement as a manager within the Hamilton Sundstrand ACE Program office, where he was instrumental in the development and implementation of United Technologies operating system (ACE) throughout the company. He maintained a lifelong love of spreadsheets, metrics, and telling VP's when they're doing stuff wrong.
Les found a spiritual home at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield. He has been a perpetual fixture in the community since he joined in 1999, filling many roles like "Sound Guy", Worship Associate, President of the Board, Building Committee, Mindfulness Meditation Group, Lecture group, and the Men's Breakfast Group (which he affectionately called "The Breakfast Boys").
He loved foods from all corners of the world, the weirder the better, and considered fussy eating to be a brand of fearfulness. He loved music from every angle. He played the piano (particularly for Christmas singalongs), DJed events, and curated his expansive collection of records, CD's, and MP3's meticulously spreadsheeted by genre, occasion, tempo, and even things like "Theme: Generosity". Everyone he knows will miss his yearly Christmas CD's, lovingly arranged from the hundreds of Christmas Albums he'd buy every year.
He deeply loved his family, and despite being a loud and proud introvert, cherished nothing more than the time he spent with the people he loved. He leaves behind his loving wife Joan (Koziol) Couture of Feeding Hills, MA; his daughters, Liz Couture of Worcester, MA and Lisa Parrish (Couture) and her husband Andrew of Feeding Hills, MA; his grandchildren, Hannah, Lily, and Sam; his brother Norman Couture and his wife Maggie of Springfield; his sister-in-law Chris Couture of Feeding Hills MA, wife of his late brother Jerry, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2PM on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Association Disaster Relief fund or the American Red Cross.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Les Couture
Sponsored by The Family.
Gerri L. Gagnon
March 11, 2025
I am so very sorry to hear of this and all his family and friends have my deepest sympathy and condolences. I knew Les from "The Great Courses" classes at the UU and then through our weekly Zoom meetings of the classes. Everyone in the group is so smart and accomplished but I loved to hear comments from Les because he was an engineer/scientist, and was curious enough to question concepts put forth as he and all of us tried to understand the "big questions" put forth in the lectures. I will also miss that great ironic sense of humor that enlivened all our "deep thinking" and always made me smile. I will miss him very much. And wish everything good for his friends and family in the future.
Vicky Gruneiro
November 2, 2024
Joan,
My heart is with you during this difficult time, I'm so sorry to hear this news. I was always in awe of what Les could do at the UU and the wonderful relationship you had with each other. Such great people!
Bob Fancher
October 29, 2024
Few spirits shine in such a unique way as Les. He will be greatly missed by many. I will miss him as a friend and as a co-worker. And, I will miss him every time I hear a Christmas song.
Ed Brown
October 28, 2024
Les was a great guy to know and especially to have on your team. He played a major part in the uNi Coffeehouse Concert Series team that put on monthly folk music concerts in Friendship Hall and the sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield for 29 years.
Marcia Kielb
October 25, 2024
Joan, so very shocked to learn of les´ passing... we will treasure his Christmas greetings and miss them... please know we are holding you close at this time.. without love, there can be no grief.. with love and care, Marcia and John Kielb
Linda Nicholson
October 25, 2024
Dear Joan
I´m so sorry to hear of Les´s sudden passing. He certainly accomplished a lot in his extraordinary life.
My sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Linda Nicholson
Carol Lewis
October 24, 2024
What a wonderful person and colleague who will be greatly missed. I have amazing memories of our Hamilton Sundstrand ACE certification road trips for the Industrial business and greatly appreciated his insightful leadership and guidance. I will never forget his purple car and hat he wore to and from work everyday that made me smile. My condolences go out to his family and friends. Rest in peace Les.
Stacy Hall
October 22, 2024
My condolences to the family of one of my great work colleagues at UTC. Worked with Les across multiple decades. He was always a bright spot within any group, highly respected and rightfully so.
Your hearts will lighten with time as the sorrow of loss is replaced with loving memories of the man you loved so, so much.
Les, my friend, thank you for being the great human you were and are.
Michael Hopper
October 21, 2024
Joan & Daughters We worked together from 73 until 94. We had great fun while pushing the bounds of the UTC culture forward. I will forever remember the work of " Buckwheat" Damm he will be missed by so many.
Tim Simoes
October 21, 2024
Les was the best of friends. His love for family was the greatest, yet he found a way to spread it to the community. His caring, eclectic music, movies and culinary tastes will be always be a part of us.
Ron Sepe
October 21, 2024
Great man! Best outlook on life! Expert on lean manufacturing - was right on with the business office method of lean - robust-o-meter! You´ll be missed Les! RIP
Mary (Claffey) Janeczek
October 21, 2024
Les and I were classmates at Cathedral HS. I remember him as a smart, quiet, self-effacing guy. It's clear that he forged a wonderful life. My condolences to his family.
Nancy and Michael Olbrych
October 21, 2024
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. So very sorry for your loss.
Roger and Fran Couture
October 19, 2024
From North Carolina Sending heartfelt condolences to all those who loved and will miss Lester, especially to Joan , Norman, Chris and their families. So very sorry for your loss. With Love, Roger and Fran Couture
Paul Rose
October 18, 2024
So sad to hear about Les, I will always remember his laugh His love of music And definitely The Christmas dinners With Joan.
Susan
October 18, 2024
I don't know this man, but after reading this extraordinary remembrance, I wish I had.
May his memory be a blessing
Christine and Jamey Tatro
October 18, 2024
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful obituary!
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