Obituary: Roger Henry “Coach” Ouellette Jr. of Watertown

Obituary courtesy of Hickcox Funeral Home

WATERTOWN- Roger Henry “Coach” Ouellette Jr. died unexpectedly late Friday evening on April 16, 2021, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He was the husband of Linda (Houle) Ouellette and the son of the late Roger Henry Sr. and Josephine (Turro) Ouellette. He was a graduate of Watertown High School where he captained the football, baseball and basketball teams and attended Southern Connecticut State University, where he was a four-year starter as a defensive back with the Southern Owls Football Program and earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education.
Roger will be remembered for his over twenty-year career as a Physical Education Teacher at Watertown High School and for his long tenured coaching career for both Watertown and New Fairfield High School Sports Programs.
“Coach Ouellette”, as he was known to generations of students and players, began his coaching career in the late 1970s as the head coach for the Watertown High School Junior Varsity and St. Aedan’s Parochial School baseball programs and as an assistant coach for the Cheshire High School, St. Paul’s High School, and Southern Connecticut State University football programs.
Roger then began a seven-year stint as the head football coach at New Fairfield High School before returning to his alma mater to become the head coach of the Watertown High School Football and Baseball programs where for over twenty years he could be seen manning the Mills Complex sidelines on Friday nights and coaching in the third base box at Deland Field on spring afternoons.
Roger was a respected C.I.A.C. Basketball official for over twenty years and served two years as President of The Water-Oak Gold Circle of Sports Organization. He was inducted into the inaugural class of The Watertown High School Gridiron Hall of Fame.
“Mr. Ouellette” or “Mr. O” could always be found in the Watertown High School Gym. He was fiercely dedicated to WHS and loved nothing more than being a mentor to students. It was well known that any student who was having a hard time was always welcome to visit Mr. Ouellette in the gym to chat or shoot hoops.
Besides his wife Linda, Roger leaves behind his children, Roger III of Los Angeles, CA, Brian and his wife Julie of Charlotte, NC, and Alyssa Ouellette and her partner Eric of Terryville, CT. Roger also leaves his brother Dan and his wife Angelina, along with nephew Daniel “DJ” Ouellette, DJ’s fiancée Sara Barnick and niece Casey Ouellette all of Watertown. In addition, he leaves behind nephews Ted Lavoie of New Hampshire and Joe Lavoie and his wife Sam of Illinois. Roger will be sorely missed by his Mother and Father-in-law Charlie and Barbara Houle of Watertown, along with In-laws and nieces and nephews: Phil and Donna Froese and their children Justin, Kevin, and Stephen -- Steven and Barbara Graboski and their daughters Brittany and Taylor -- Dave and Sandy Ricci and their sons Michael, Josh, and daughter Megan -- and Charles and Danielle Houle and daughters Juliana and Alexandra.
Roger was predeceased by his mother and father along with his sister, Michele Ouellette Lavoie, and brother Michael Ouellette.
The family would like to thank son Brian’s in-laws Ron and Sema Smith of North Carolina for their compassionate care and strength during this difficult time. The family also would like to thank Mark Jaffee, the Waterbury Republican American, and Jim Dreher and the Town Times for all the kind words published about their husband, father, uncle and brother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning 10 a.m., St. John the Evangelist Church, 574 Main St. Friends and family are asked to meet directly at the church. Due to the current pandemic restrictions, seating is limited and masks and social distancing are required. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery. A walk-through visitation will be held Thursday evening 5-7 p.m., at the Hickcox Funeral Home, 195 Main St., Watertown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Watertown High School Athletic Department in Roger’s name.