AMHERST, Clarence “Frenchy” Vincent Poirrier of Amherst, MA, age 92, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2014 at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in North Amherst. Born May 18, 1921 in New Orleans, LA, to the late Theresa Maury Poirrier and Charles Poirrier, both of New Orleans, LA.

A WWII Navy veteran, he spent 6 years at sea in the Pacific Rim, aboard the heavy cruiser USS Louisville. He served as a Gunner’s Mate (GM) then as Turret Captain. Frenchy was justifiably proud of his military service, and was rarely seen without his signature USS Louisville hat.

On shore leave in Washington, DC, he was introduced to his future wife, Rose Annette Stratioti, of Duluth, MN, by her cousin, a Navy shipmate. After their marriage in 1947, Frenchy and Rose moved from Washington, DC to nearby Rockville, MD, where they raised two daughters, Janet and Sherry. His employment as an electrical engineer with Western Electric expanded to a career as an electronic technician with the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, MD. At the peak of the Cold War, he worked with early computerized encryption devices, their maintenance, and programming. He retired from the Agency in 1976, and began an enthusiastic avocation as a dealer in antiques and collectibles, especially antique tools. In 1998, he and Rose moved to Amherst, MA to be near their two daughters. Rose passed away in 2008, after 61 years of devoted marriage. Frenchy then moved from their Echo Hill condominium to the Greenleaves Retirement community in Amherst. Frenchy had a life-long commitment to fitness, maintaining regular workout schedules for over 50 years, most recently at the local Planet Fitness.

He possessed engaging personal qualities that made him appreciative of all forms of ingenuity, beauty, art, food and cooking, music, global culture, antiques, and curious tools and artifacts. He loved animals, organic gardening (a pioneer in the 1960s), and nature, especially the sea. He enjoyed the benefits of an inquisitive and open mind, which led him to explore many interests and connected him to diverse people. He was a superior mechanic and handyman, a devoted husband and father. He will be remembered for his steadfast friendship, entertaining stories of his youth and Navy days and his extraordinary personal charm and humor which delighted everyone he knew. His resilient, positive attitude naturally drew others to him, keeping him close to their hearts.

Frenchy is survived by his loving daughters, Janet Poirrier and Sherry Poirrier of Amherst, as well as extended family across the country. He and Rose were members of Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley. Douglass Funeral Home is handling the private funeral arrangements and burial in Holy Rosary Cemetery. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in his name to the Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant St Amherst, MA 01002. Please visit a Memorial Website for Clarence “Frenchy” Vincent Poirrier at: http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/frenchypoirrier/homepage.aspx. Obituary and register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.