John (Jack) Alvin Riopelle

  General Notes:

John Alvin Riopelle was commonly called "Jack".

Obituary from the Albany Times Union

John Alvin Riopelle, 94, passed away on June 17, 2016. He was born in Los Angeles. His family moved to Ferndale, Mich. where he attended high school. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned a bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and a master's degree in engineering mechanics. He received a commission in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving as an aviation engineering officer. Mr. Riopelle joined the Kaiser Frazer Corporation in 1947 as an experimental engineer, working on the design and testing of Kaiser Frazer automobile parts. At the same time he acquired a pilot's license. In 1952 he became a sales engineer for the Eclipse Machine Division of Bendix Corporation, located in Elmira. In 1968 he transferred to the Friction Materials Division of Bendix in Troy. There he developed and directed the Reliability and Quality Assurance Department. In 1970 he was promoted to plant manager of the Bendix Friction Materials Division plant in Cleveland, Tenn. While there he served on the Board of Directors of Cleveland Associated Industries, YMCA Board of Directors, president of the Junior Achievement, Asbestos Information Association Board of Directors, elder of the North Presbyterian Church and as member of the Elks Club, Rotary Club, Cleveland Country Club, American Society for Quality Control, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. In 1976 he was promoted to director of operations of the Friction Materials Division, with headquarters in Troy. He retired in 1986, after completing a special assigment, which was to find a location for and then supervise the designing and building of the Third Fiction Materials Plant. This plant was built in Panama City, Fla. After retiring he resided in Delmar. He was active in the Delmar Kiwanis Club, the University of Michigan Club of the Capitol Division and a lifetime silver master in the American Contract Bridge League. Mr. Riopelle was the son of the late Henry Earl Riopelle and Edith (nee Stewart) Riopelle; and the brother of the late Marseilles (Lila) Riopelle and the late Marie (late Lee) Dickinson. He is survived by his devoted daughter, Andree Renee Riopelle Simpson; loving son, John D. and dear daughter-in-law, Collette Riopelle; and cherished granddaughter, Amelia Ellen Simpson. Private interment will be held in Michigan at the convenience of the family.

John married.