Alan R. Jacque
Williamsport, MD – Alan R. Jacque, Amherst native and longtime
resident of Hadley, passed away after a battle with cancer at his home
in Williamsport, Maryland on September 17, 2025. He was 81.
Alan Robert Jacque was born on March 23, 1944 to Robert and Lillian
(Monchamp) Jacque and grew up on the family farm on South Pleasant
Street in Amherst. His early years were spent with his five siblings
and extended family sharing a house and chores. He regaled his
children with tales of life on the farm which included feeding the
calves or helping with the morning milkings before school, driving
teams of horses in the fields, avoiding the wrath of angry roosters,
doing pushups with his younger siblings on his back, showing the
family’s Jersey cows at the local fairs, and growing an appreciation
for home-cooked meals.
Alan attended Amherst Regional Schools and excelled at football,
basketball and baseball earning many awards for his athletic
abilities. Following graduation in 1963 he enrolled at Keene State
College where he earned a B.A. in Education and a B.S. in Industrial
Arts and continued his athletic endeavors playing soccer and baseball.
He would recount stories of away games and stopping at McDonalds with
the team when hamburgers only cost a nickel. He loved remembering the
price of food from the 50s and 60s where one dollar would be enough
for a weekend away.
After graduation he spent two years in Concord, Vermont as the
Industrial Arts teacher before a position opened up at his alma mater.
In 1969 he returned to the Amherst Regional School system to teach
Industrial Arts, and he would stay for the remainder of his career
teaching middle and high school students and passionately coaching
basketball and football. He gave his time generously to all aspects of
education becoming the President of the teachers’ unions at both
Concord and Amherst. Alan enjoyed his job and set a good example of
work ethic for his children, never complaining about early mornings or
unruly students. If you had Mr. Jacque as your teacher or coach, he
remembered you, your name, and likely a funny anecdote of your awkward
teenage years. Alan retired from teaching in 2002 after 33 years and
thousands of students.
In 1978 he married his wife Lisa (Gettier) and they raised their
family in a house they built together in Hadley. The home was full of
the things that characterized his childhood: a prolific garden;
homemade applesauce and jams; and a menagerie of livestock.
As their children grew, Alan’s involvement in local organizations did
as well. Always one to volunteer his time, Alan ran for selectman in
Hadley in 1990 and held the position for a total of 11 years. He loved
being involved and working closely with town employees. He also
volunteered at the Three Country Fair holding various roles including
many on the Board of Directors for over 15 years. Alan loved fair
season, walking the grounds and seeing familiar faces, catching up
with old friends in the cow barns, and having a milkshake from the 4-H
milkshake booth, which was often being managed by his sister, Joyce
West.
He loved driving his Allis-Chalmer tractor which he used to plow his
oversized garden as his children collected worms from the freshly
turned soil behind him and to push massive snow piles that were then
used to make snow forts. He loved watching Marty Stouffer’s Wild
America and This Old House on PBS, NY Giants football, and pretty much
any football, basketball or baseball game on TV especially if enjoyed
with a bowl of ice cream. He wouldn’t turn down a soft serve twist
cone in the summer, a stop at the Pittsfield bakery for an eclair, or
a cup of coffee (and sometimes a donut) with Chip Parsons in the
afternoon. He loved giving directions to destinations around New
England and comparing other peoples’ directions to see who could come
up with the best “shortcut”. Regardless of where you were headed, it
is likely that he would advise you to avoid I-95 at all costs.
After retiring he did not slow down. He continued to coach Hurricane
football, eventually handing over the whistle after more than forty
years having coached with great pride many athletes who went on to
play at the collegiate and professional levels. He took a part-time
job at Parsons Farm in Hadley where he drove piglets and lambs to
research hospitals around New England, a role he definitely would have
done without pay. He loved waking early, driving to the farm, talking
about the weather with the Parsons family, giving tips about when to
cut and bale hay, and setting off on a few hours round trip. After
relocating to Williamsport, Maryland with his wife he continued to
develop his wood-working skills by teaching himself how to turn bowls
on the lathe using wood from places of sentimental significance. He
generously gifted many of these beautiful bowls and handmade wooden
items to family and friends. He also became a regular at the local
gym, using the space as an equal parts workout room and social club.
Alan had many gifts, but the greatest was being able to talk to
anyone. If Al Jacque went to the airport or traveled to a new city, he
was guaranteed to see someone he knew or meet someone who knew someone
he knew back in Massachusetts. He relished in striking up
conversations with strangers making comments about sports, weather,
cars, college affiliation, or pretty much anything. Alan loved
laughter and sharing the laughter with others. It was a real talent
and often elicited a playful eye roll from his wife and children.
In addition to his parents, Robert and Lillian Jacque, Alan was
predeceased by his siblings Georgianne Conte, Joyce West, and James
Jacque, and grandson Francis Dixon. He is survived by his devoted wife
of 47 years, Lisa, who cared for him tirelessly throughout his
treatment, and his children: Tammy (Matt) Dixon, Emily (Matt) Sanson,
Laura (Michael) Bok, and Robert Jacque. He is also survived by his
adored grandchildren Christopher and Daniel Dixon and Brooke and
Caroline Sanson, his siblings Thomas (Barbara) Jacque, Mary (Fred)
Conte, brother-in-law Arthur West, sister-in-law Kathleen Jacque, as
well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and a large extended family.
Alan was proud of rising early, working hard without complaint,
growing up on a dairy farm, having a deep knowledge of woodworking and
carpentry, and the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren,
students, and athletes. His children will remember their dad most when
they smell fresh sawdust and a newly mowed lawn, hear the familiar
sound of a chainsaw, see a freshly plowed corn field, make pancakes on
a Sunday morning, or need to google how to fix something around the
house.
A family graveside gathering will take place at Wildwood Cemetery,
Amherst, MA at a future date at the convenience of the family. In lieu
of flowers please consider donating in Alan’s memory to The Three
County Fair (Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, PO
Box 305, Northampton, MA 01061-0305, www.3countyfair.com) or Hospice
of Washington County (1710 Underpass Way, Suite 300, Hagerstown,
Maryland 21740, www.hospiceofwc.org).
Online condolences are accepted at www.minnichfh.com.