Paquette, 55, Senior News Producer at WFCR, was an award-winning journalist and a respected member of the Western Mass. community.
Bob Paquette, 55, Senior News Producer and host of Morning Edition at WFCR, died of an apparent heart attack in Bloomfield, Conn.The Western Massachusetts news community, as well as the community at large, lost a major voice this weekend when Bob Paquette, Senior News Producer and host of Morning Edition at WFCR-FM, died of an apparent heart attack in Bloomfield, Conn.
Paquette, 55, began working in radio his freshman year of college in 1973 and joined the staff of WFCR in 1991. During his tenure at WFCR, Paquette received 10 awards for his reporting work from the Associated Press and four awards from the Public Radio News Directors Association.
Paquette was born on May 14, 1956 in Maysville, North Carolina, to Robert and Martha (Byrd) Paquette. Before WFCR, he worked as a morning news announcer at WRNX and WTTT, both in Amherst. Paquette was a 1973 graduate of Dracut (Mass.) High School and a 1977 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He and Michael Packard began a 25-year partnership on June 4, 1986, and would have celebrated their 25th anniversary on what is now the date of his memorial service. The couple had a commitment ceremony on July 11, 1992 and were wed on July 11, 2004.
"There are no words to express our shock and grief over the loss of our colleague and friend Bob Paquette," said Martin Miller, CEO and General Manager of WFCR and WNNZ. "Our heartfelt condolences and sympathies go out to Bob's husband Michael Packard, and to their families, friends and colleagues."
In addition to his radio work, he also worked part time as a bartender in several local restaurants and for the past few years served as a justice of the peace, officiating many local weddings. Paquette also enjoyed being a part of the graduation ceremonies at the University of Massachusetts for the past several years, announcing the undergraduate schools and introducing the graduate students. He also was frequently asked to serve as master of ceremonies for local charity events.
"Bob Paquette will be deeply missed at UMass Amherst. He is best known as an outstanding journalist who each day enlightened thousands of listeners in the Pioneer Valley and beyond, "said Robert C. Holub, Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. "He was also a proud UMass graduate, and we will cherish the memory of his role at our commencement ceremonies, where his voice of authority and joy set the perfect tone for our most important community celebration. He shared his talents in many ways, and for that we will always be grateful."
Paquette was diagnosed with cancer in the early part of the last decade, but had been cancer-free for the past three years. He was frequently called upon to counsel newly diagnosed cancer patients, an activity that meant a great deal to him, according to Packard. He was also a volunteer at the PanMass Challenge each year.
A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. on June 4 at the First Church of Deerfield.