National Board Mourns Wilfred LaRochelle
It is with great sadness the National Board announces the passing of HSB Global Standards Principle Nuclear Consultant Wil LaRochelle. He was 60 years old.
Mr. LaRochelle died June 10 following a valiant battle with esophageal cancer.
The 36-year employee of HSB specialized in quality assessment programs and ASME conformity assessment. At the time of his death, Mr. LaRochelle was serving as chair of the Subcommittee on General Requirements ASME Section III. He was designated an ASME Fellow in May.
Additional leadership positions within ASME included: vice president and chairman of the Board on Conformity Assessment; chair of the Subcommittee on Boiler and Pressure Vessel Conformity Assessment, and vice chair of the Committee on Nuclear Certification. Other ASME positions in which he had served: the Council on Standards and Certification; the Board on Codes and Standards Operations; the Board on Nuclear Codes and Standards; and the Standards Committee for Qualification of Authorized Inspection.
Mr. LaRochelle had represented ASME on delegations to South Africa, France, Italy, Korea, Japan, India, and China. Past ASME awards include a Certificate of Achievement, Certificate of Acclamation, and a Dedicated Service Award. He was named the recipient of the prestigious Bernard F. Langer Nuclear Codes and Standards Award in 2011.
ASME Deputy Executive Director June Ling said of Mr. LaRochelle: “We will sorely miss our good friend – his work will live on through the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the memories of the many people he touched throughout the world.”
In expressing his condolences, National Board Executive Director David Douin added: “Wil LaRochelle’s expertise in the area of ASME conformity assessment was unequaled. A good friend of the National Board, he will be fondly remembered for his countless contributions to the pressure equipment industry.”