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OBITUARIES

Joseph Brouillard ’51, Former CCAA President, Communications Agency Founder

Joseph Brouillard ’51

Joseph Brouillard ’51, founder of a corporate communications agency bearing his name and
president of the Columbia College Alumni Association from 1986–88, died on September 24 at his home in Montpelier, Vt. He was 79.
Brouillard was born in Holyoke, Mass., and was educated there and in Chicopee. He left high school in October 1942 (his senior year) to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard and served mainly aboard Coast Guard cutters doing convoy escort duty in the North and South Atlantic during WWII.

Among the places where Brouillard worked was Lippincott & Margulies, a design firm, where he became a director and v.p. for marketing. Brouillard joined J. Walter Thompson in 1965 as director of communications planning and soon became executive v.p. and a board member. In 1966, he formed a unit at J. Walter Thompson to offer corporate clients not only advertising and design but also research, direct marketing and public relations. In 1980, the name of the division was changed to Brouillard Communications.

In December 1984, at 60, Brouillard retired as CEO of Brouillard Communications and executive v.p. and member of the Board of Directors of J. Walter Thompson. He and his wife, Virginia, left New York City and moved to their home in Warren Vt., where they enjoyed the Valley, skiing, tennis, biking, restaurants and spending time with their many friends. Brouillard became an avid road bicyclist, and in his later years, a devoted snow shoeing enthusiast, even keeping four Bernese Mountain dogs as pets. Brouillard and a group of friends and business partners built the radio station that continues to transmit from the summit of Lincoln Peak (Sugarbush mountain), though they sold it in 1988.

Brouillard remained active in College alumni affairs throughout his business career and retirement; he received a John Jay Award in 1986. Eric Witkin ’69, who succeeded Brouillard as president of the Alumni Association, called him “very quietly effective.”

Brouillard is survived by his wife, to whom he was married for more than 50 years; son, Jeffrey, and daughter-in-law Nancy; and two granddaughters. A daughter, Lisa, died in 1995.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Columbia College Fund (Memory of Joseph Brouillard ’51C), 475 Riverside Dr., Ste 917, New York, NY 10115-0998.
Lisa Palladino

Lisa Palladino

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