Pastor pg 9 1-26-12
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Dr. Robert LaRochelle
By Ron P. Coderre
The people at The Congregational Church of Union know him as Pastor Bob. Dr. Robert LaRochelle is the part time pastor of the small congregation of approximately 45 individuals. He’s also called Mr. laRochelle at his full time position of guidance counselor at South Windsor High School. And he’s also referred to as “honey”, as the husband, for the past 31 years, of Patricia Coppinger. And finally he’s affectionately “dad” to his three adult children, Brian, 27, Kathleen, 25 and Stephen, 20.
On Jan. 13 at the Connecticut American Legion Baseball Hot Stove Banquet at the Aqua Turf, he was referred to as “Coach” LaRochelle. At the head table in front of 250 guests LaRochelle was seated alongside such dignitaries as WTIC –TV Channel 61 sports anchor Rich Coppola, former Yale and Miami Dolphin running back Rich Diana, UConn-Avery Point renowned baseball coach Roger Bidwell, longtime American Legion Baseball Committee member Gene Spaziani and others.
LaRochelle, who originally hails from Putnam, was honored by the AL State Baseball Committee as the Connecticut 2011 High School Coach of the Year.
“I was surprised. Jarred might be a better way to describe my feelings. This is an honor that I share with my family,” said Larochelle of the recognition.
He was honored for his years as a baseball coach at East Catholic and South Windsor High School and American Legion coach at Rockville and South Windsor. His major coaching achievement came in 2006 when he led South Windsor High School to the CCC-East championship and guided his team to the Connecticut State LL semi-finals.
“Legion and baseball in general has always been very special to me. At the LaRochelle home, summer is Legion baseball. It’s an opportunity for me to work positively with young people,” said LaRochelle.
LaRochelle, a 1966 St. Mary’s School and 1970 Marianapolis Prep grad, cut his coaching teeth at a young age when he assisted at St. Mary’s in 1969 and 1970. Following his graduation from Holy Cross in Worcester in 1974 he returned to Putnam and St. Mary’s as the head coach for three seasons 1976 through 1978 leading the Crusaders to the QVJC Small School title in 1977.
He’s also proud of the fact that he served as Putnam Little League President in 1975 and coached the 1978-79 basketball edition of St. Mary’s to a spectacular 30-4 record.
Throughout his busy schedule as a young man, LaRochelle was able to mix in some serious education, earning an M.ED at the Institute of Religious Education and pastoral Ministry, from Boston College in 1976. Not satisfied with a single master’s degree, he received his masters in counseling from Central Connecticut State University in 1987.
The culmination of his educational studies occurred in 2007 when he was awarded a D. Min. from Chicago Theological Seminary. LaRochelle has also found time to write a book, Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church and is currently working on writing another book.
As he’s embraced baseball and coaching, he’s found the same fervor for his work in the ministry. The website for the tiny church in Union states, “He came to us with a passion for Youth Ministry, for justice and for creating a church environment that is welcoming. Under his direction, our youth programs have thrived and we have embraced the theme ALL ARE WELCOME as descriptive of the mission of our church.”
Sitting at the head table and being interviewed by Rich Coppola came naturally to Larochelle, who is in the pulpit every Sunday. Motivating audiences started more than 40 years ago and comes naturally to LaRochelle who is passionate about everything he undertakes.
His religious studies have led him to the ministry, much the same way that coaching as a young man led him to success in baseball. It’s fair to say that in many ways that baseball is religion to Dr. Bob LaRochelle.