In Memoriam - Don Bouchard

February 10, 2008 by Lukas Gilkey


- Don Bouchard: Feb. 3, 1950 - Feb. 7, 2008

I just got word that Don Bouchard has passed away from the injuries he received in a recent motorcycle accident. I met Don at RMAF this past October and got to chat with him for a bit. Just a good guy that really had a love for the industry. He will be greatly missed.

Below is the full email regarding Don's passing.

"In mid-December, Don Bouchard, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ultralink/XLO Products, Inc. was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in Houston. Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe and he was unable to recover from them. Don passed away peacefully on February 7 and he will be greatly missed by his family, friends and business colleagues, who saw him as "one of the brightest lights in the industry".

He is survived by his two children Don III and Rebecca, his mother, Doris, his brothers Jeff and Mike along with his sister-in-laws Pam, Kathy and Lisa. He also leaves behind several nephews Jordan, Colin, Kyle, Travis, Mike Jr, Jacob and his niece Kayla.

Don Bouchard lived life passionately, whether it was work or play. He had many interests and passions including an affinity for great wines, music, books, scuba diving, Native American culture, photography and travel writing, He especially loved his motorcycle club, La Familia/Los Carnales that was based in Texas . They will hold a service to celebrate his life during the first weekend of March at Bryant's Ice House in Katy, TX.

Like everything he touched and that mattered to him, Don gave passionately to his long career in the A/V specialty business. He started in 1972 and had been associated with several prestigious companies over the years such as Ohm Acoustics, Dahlquist, Acoustic Research, Red Rose Music, Denon and Cello with Mark Levinson. Educated with a degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University, Don was also a highly successful motivational speaker,
spokesman, and educator with clients that included IBM, Tandy, HP, Maritz Corp. and Merrill Lynch.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Don's name to the Elf Foundation.

In celebration of his 50th birthday on February 3, 2000, Don wrote the following that captures the true essence of how he lived his life:

Finite and Infinite.
The one commodity that I know we possess in only a finite quantity is Time. We have an infinite capacity for experience, for knowledge, for adventure, for stimulation, for pleasure, for joy, for passion, for love - limited only by time and temperament. Sooner or later, the clock will run out for all of us. I know that when that moment arrives for me; I will not welcome it. There will yet be, for me, books unread, wine un-drunk, meals uneaten, mountain roads un-ridden, reefs unexplored, desert vistas unappreciated, cigars un-smoked, friends unknown, sunsets unseen, love unfulfilled. Awareness of the ticking-clock nature of life causes me no distress. Rather, it enhances the experience and heightens my appreciation of every savored moment.

But, though I will not leave here willingly, it will be with the certain knowledge that never did I pass upon the opportunity for these things. I shall never say "I only wish that I had done this or that when I could have". For I did everything possible when I could do so. My only regret will be that I had not had additional time in which to do more."

Comments (1)
Bouch097 8 months and 4 weeks ago

Thank you for your kind words regarding my father. However, I wanted to correct the information regarding his services. The one at Bryant's Ice House is being held for his biker friends. The more formal event for his other friends, family, and colleagues at:

Sunday, March 2, 1pm-4pm
The Parador
2021 Binz
Houston, TX 77004
713-529-3035
www.paradorhouston.com

It is an open invitation, so we would love for anyone to attend that would like to.

Thank you,

Don Bouchard
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