It is with deep sadness that we share the news that former ECSE faculty member Alan Desrochers passed away peacefully on Sunday April 13 in Chelsea, MA.
Alan joined ECSE and RPI in 1980 and retired in 2011 as a Professor Emeritus. Alan received B.S.E.E. degree from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, in 1972, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue University, in 1973 and 1977, respectively. He was with Lockheed Missiles and Space in 1974. He was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Boston University from 1977 to 1980 before joining RPI. He was a Visiting Scientist in the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, MIT, 1986-1987. He was part of a six-faculty member team that received the LEAD Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 1987. He was a past Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation. He is a Fellow of the IEEE for contributions to manufacturing systems engineering and manufacturing systems education.
Alan was known not only for his intellect and dedication to teaching and research but also for his sharp wit and dry sense of humor. His incisive one-liners never failed to bring laughter to any faculty gathering.
It is with deep sadness that we share the news that former ECSE faculty member Alan Desrochers passed away peacefully on Sunday April 13 in Chelsea, MA. Alan joined ECSE and RPI in 1980 and retired in 2011 as a Professor Emeritus. Alan received B.S.E.E. degree from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, in 1972, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue University, in 1973 and 1977, respectively. He was with Lockheed Missiles and Space in 1974. He was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Boston University from 1977 to 1980 before joining RPI. He was a Visiting Scientist in the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, MIT, 1986-1987. He was part of a six-faculty member team that received the LEAD Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 1987. He was a past Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation. He is a Fellow of the IEEE for contributions to manufacturing systems engineering and manufacturing systems education. Alan was known not only for his intellect and dedication to teaching and research but also for his sharp wit and dry sense of humor. His incisive one-liners never failed to bring laughter to any faculty gathering. After his retirement, Alan established the Alan A. Desrochers ’72 Engineering Endowed Scholarship Fund at his alma mater, UMass Lowell, to support undergraduate students in electrical and computer engineering facing financial hardship.
Alan moved to Cape Cod after retirement, and enjoyed sailing and traveling. He established the Alan A. Desrochers ’72 Engineering Endowed Scholarship Fund at his alma mater, UMass Lowell, to support undergraduate students in electrical and computer engineering facing financial hardship. In the article "Kindness of Strangers" in UMass Lowell Magazine in 2023, Alan described how he wanted to give back to the next generation of students like others had helped him when he started college.
