Alfred A. LaRiviere

Alfred Albert LaRiviere, 93, a member of the greatest generation, died Saturday July 17th in Ludlow with his family around him.

Al was born in Chicopee, MA on May 6th, 1917, son of the late Albert C. and Rose A. (Plouffe) LaRiviere, and was raised from an early age in Indian Orchard, MA. He attended Springfield public and parochial schools and was a 1935 graduate of Commerce High School. He served in the US army during WWII from 1941 to 1947, spending six months in Japan with the occupational forces after the war ended. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. In 1945, during his assignment to Camp Lee, VA, he met and married his wife Marian L. Eavey of Hopewell, VA. Following the war, while working at Chapman Valve in Indian Orchard, he obtained his BBA in Accounting (1951) from Northeastern University’s Springfield campus, now Western New England College.

In 1952 Al began a 43 year career with Massachusetts credit unions taking the position of manager of the Chapman Valve Credit Union. In 1960 he accepted the position of president of the Western Mass Telephone Workers’ Credit Union (Freedom Credit Union) and retired as its CEO in 1995 at the age of 78. Al worked to foster the credit union movement serving as chairman of the Mass Share Insurance Corp, chairman of the Credit Union League of Mass, chairman of the Credit Union Employees Retirement Association, treasurer of the Central Credit Union Fund, and president of the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the Credit Union League of Mass. He also worked tirelessly with legislators in the State to pass many pieces of legislation clearing the way for the growth of credit unions.

Al was best known for his volunteerism. For his Town, he was a Ludlow Town Meeting member from 1957-2008. He served two terms on the School Committee and was chairman of the building committees for the Ludlow High school and East Street school addition. For his Community, he was a president of the Springfield Rotary club and served on nearly all of its committees. He was treasurer of the Rotary District for 10 years and a Paul Harris fellowship recipient. He was a trustee of Mercy Hospital and served a term as its chairman. He volunteered at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce on numerous initiatives and also volunteered for the Springfield Schools Spelling Bee for 13 years. In 1983 Al received the prestigious Pynchon Award in recognition of his community service. For his College, he served as trustee of Western New England College from 1968 until his death, signing countless diplomas as Secretary of the Board. The college recognized Al’s service in 1995 with an honorary degree and again in 1999, naming the LaRiviere Living and Learning Center in his honor. For his Church, St. Elizabeth Parish, formerly St John the Baptist Church, he served as a chairman of the Parish Council and the Finance Council, and he was a long serving member of the League of the Sacred Heart.

Al is pre-deceased by his brother Albert (Harold) of Florence, MA. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marian of Ludlow, his brother Arthur of Wilbraham, five daughters Karen and her husband Roger Audette of Ludlow, Michele and her husband Bryant Hersh of Chicopee, Denise and her husband Stephen Rourke of Ludlow, Patrice and her husband Major (retired army) David Chadbourne of Springfield, VA, and Monique LaRiviere and her husband William Burke of South Hadley, two sons Alfred, Jr. and his wife Pauline of Ludlow, Francis and his wife Brenda of Oxford, MA, first cousins Richard Rickson of Westfield, MA, Thomas Rickson of Springfield, MA, and James Rickson of Ludlow, eleven nieces and nephews, nineteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren,.

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