John Spencer Rochefort

John Spencer Rochefort, a professor emeritus of Northeastern University, died peacefully in his sleep on October 16, 2011. Professor Rochefort, known as Spencer to his friends, was born in Boston to John J. and M. Mabel Rochefort. He graduated from Boston English High (1942) and studied at Northeastern University (BSEE 1948) and MIT (MSEE 1951). After his freshman year at Northeastern, he enlisted in the Army and as a member of the Army Signal Corps, spent time in the Philippines repairing cryptographic machines. He received two battle star ribbons: the Battle of Manila and the Southern Philippines Campaign and a Victory Medal. After his discharge in 1945, he returned to complete his Bachelor's degree at Northeastern University. He married Kathleen A. (Kay) Clinton on June 21, 1952 in Newton, MA and they eventually settled in Sharon.
A member of the Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi honor societies, Spencer taught and served as Chairman of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Northeastern University. During his tenure, Professor Rochefort divided his time between teaching and research, eventually becoming Principal Investigator of the Electronics Research Lab. Throughout the duration of the space race and beyond, Professor Rochefort's team worked in conjunction with NASA and the Air Force performing research in the upper atmosphere using sounding rockets, high altitude balloons and the space shuttle. Utilizing well-known rocket launch ranges such as White Sands, New Mexico, as well as remote locations in Canada, Alaska and the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, their work helped establish Northeastern as a research university and provided co-operative education to students. Upon his retirement in 1994, he received a citation from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for teaching at NU for 45 years. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from NU in 1998.
Spencer and Kay enjoyed spending summers on Cape Cod, where they enjoyed swimming and visiting with friends.. The couple also looked forward to winter vacations in Barbados during retirement. At the Cape, he was a founding member of the Nobscusset Property Owners Association (NPOA) . Over the years, he was an active member of the neighborhood, at various times serving as president or director; he stepped down from the board of directors in 2010.
Spencer is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and five children and their families: Regina Rochefort and Steve Gibbons of Mt. Vernon, Washington and their sons Shane and Taylor; Kathy Rochefort and Bill Weber of Brookline, MA and their son Nicholas; Barbara Rochefort of Acton, MA; Stephen Rochefort and Patricia Galdamez of Bolton, MA; and Beth Rochefort of East Boston and her daughter Kay.
A wake will be held at the Farley Funeral Home (358 Park Street, Stoughton, MA) on Thursday, October 20 from 4:00-7:00PM. On Friday, a funeral mass will be held at Our Lady Of Sorrows Church (59 Cottage Street, Sharon, MA) at 10:30 AM and the burial will commence at 12:45 PM on Friday at the Massachusetts National Cemetery off Connery Rd in Bourne, MA.
Donations in his honor may be made to Northeastern University, Engineering Dean's Fund, ATTN Paul Holt 230SN, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115; or the Dennis Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 67
East Dennis, MA 02641, www.dennisconservationtrust.org.