Rolland F. Rochon

Rolland F. Rochon, 89, of Otter River Road, Winchendon, former executive of Union Twist Drill and longtime corporator of Athol Savings Bank, died Monday, November 9, at Quabbin Valley Healthcare after a brief hospice stay. 

He was the husband of the late Helen M. Rochon (Shepardson), who died in 2019. The couple married in 1958 and raised their four children in Phillipston. 

Born in Springfield, MA, he was the son and only child of Ernest L. and Irene L. (Lamothe) Rochon. He is survived by his four children: Deborah A. (Rochon) Knott of Laurel, Maryland; Paul F. Rochon of Wrentham; and Glenn D. Rochon and Daniel F. Rochon, both of Winchendon; as well as two grandsons: Evan M. R. Knott of Woodstock, GA and Braden W. R. Knott of Bowie, MD; and two great-grandsons: Henry and Avery Knott of Bowie, MD.

 He also leaves behind a close friend, Elaine St. Pierre, of Winchendon, whom he met as a new widower and with whom he enjoyed nearly seven years exploring restaurants and backroads of New England. 

An avid soccer player and captain of his team, he graduated from Fitchburg State Teachers College in 1959 and taught industrial arts in Springfield until moving to Phillipston in December 1961. He started work at Union Twist Drill (UTD) at what was going to be a temporary job as a turret lathe operator before he found another teaching job. He stayed at UTD and worked his way up through tool design engineering, manufacturing engineering, product research, and sales until he became a company executive. He ultimately served as Vice President of the Union Butterfield Division of Litton Industries until the Athol plant closed during a labor dispute in 1984. He later worked for Greenfield Industries for five years and finished his working career at age 77 as co-owner of Production Tool and Grinding, Inc. in Orange. The company manufactured solid carbide cutting tools for aircraft engine manufacturing companies and other companies that needed special designs of cutting tool products.

 Mr. Rochon was a resident of Phillipston for 25 years, serving as volunteer firefighter, town moderator and school board member of the Phillipston Memorial School and Narragansett Regional High School. After living for short periods in Bethany, CT and Northfield, MA, he lived in Winchendon for 37 years. 

He was a longtime member of the Gardner Seventh-day Adventist Church, teaching Bible studies, serving as the head elder, and helping to found People’s Place in Gardner. He also served as a corporator of the Athol Savings Bank for 21 years from his nomination in 2004 until he could no longer serve due to declining health. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 22, 2026 at the Gardner Seventh-day Adventist Church, 100 Colony Road, Westminster. 

Flowers may be delivered no later than 10:00 AM Sunday to the Mack Family Funeral Home at 105 Central Street, Gardner, MA.

 A private burial will be held at Lower Cemetery, Phillipston, MA.