Kit & Jerry Boucher

Kathleen “Kit” Smedick Boucher and Gerard Francis “Jerry” Boucher, lifelong best friends and devoted partners since they were teenagers, passed away together on February 14, 2026, at First Encounter Beach in Eastham, Massachusetts.

Jerry was born in Hartford, CT, on May 8, 1953, to Gerard and Gilberte Boucher, the favorite little brother to Paul, Roger, and Jill. Kit was born on October 11, 1954, to James and Jennie Smedick. Kit brought a vibrant, precocious energy to her family, a spirit perfectly balanced by her sister Cheryl, her constant, steady friend who she adored deeply.

Kit and Jerry’s love story began in a 1970 biology class at Northwest Catholic High School. She wasn’t initially sold on the teenage boy who described a grasshopper as having “antlers” instead of antennae, but Jerry’s persistence and charm soon won over both Kit and her parents. They spent their youth taking long rides in Jerry's MG to Misquamicut Beach. Decades later, they owned a replica of that same car, taking it on "little dates" to the Chocolate Sparrow or to split a sandwich, proving they never lost the ability to be young together.

Married in 1975, Kit and Jerry built a life in West Hartford rooted in loyalty, faith, and family. Both lost their fathers in their early twenties and their mothers in their mid-thirties- losses that shaped them profoundly and deepened their commitment to building a loving family of their own. As parents to Katy and Amy, they provided absolute stability, instilling authenticity over conformity and offering a steady love that became the foundation for their daughters’ lives. That circle naturally expanded to include Jared Lawson, a son who shared daily morning calls with Kit and learned the quiet craft of building from Jerry.

“Uncle Jerry and Aunt Kit” were fixtures in their nieces' and nephews' lives- whether Jerry was chaperoning a Scout overnight on a battleship or Kit was matching the boundless energy of the family’s youngest kids. To Katy and Amy’s friends, "Mr. and Mrs. B" were beloved surrogate parents, equally ready to fix a broken appliance or mend a broken heart.

Kit and Jerry were never the type to sit still. Jerry spent his career at Connecticut Natural Gas, and while Kit jokingly kept him in her phone as “Gasman,” the title reflected his character more than his job. He often arrived at Hartford apartments with warm meals and coats for families whose service had been disconnected. After he passed, a notebook found in his truck was filled with his plans to purchase beds for a local shelter- a quiet reflection of his generous heart and steadfast Catholic faith.

For twenty years, Kit was a cherished kindergarten teacher in West Hartford, primarily at Bugbee Elementary. She adored her students and remained deeply connected to generations of families until her very last day. Relationships were her true talent; she had a remarkable gift for remembering the small but meaningful details of every life she touched.

In 2008, they moved to Eastham and fully embraced Cape Cod life—from long beach walks and projects in Jerry’s barn to local activism. Kit became a later-in-life athlete with the Cape Cod Athletic Club and a dedicated volunteer for IFAW. Her granddaughter, Jennie, perfectly captured her spirit as a preschooler: “Does your grandma run long races and rescue dolphins? Mine does!” Years later, Jennie wrote an essay describing Grandma and Pep’s home as her ultimate happy place.

Jerry served the Eastham community by driving seniors to appointments, rebuilding the Council on Aging deck, and sharing the history of the Eastham Windmill with visitors. He always found his way back to the barn to tinker—a passion that lives on in his grandson, Tyler. Recently, they spent hours working on cars together; for Tyler, every minute spent learning from Pep was a gift.

Their grandchildren- James, Maggie, Tyler, Jennie, Sam, and Max- were their world. They took deep joy in nurturing each child’s individual talents, whether through lifelong bonds or newer connections. When their first grandchild, James, was born, Kit would hide him in her tote bag and pretend to sneak him away so she could keep him forever; to this day, James describes Grandma as his first love. Kit was the first person to buy a piece of Maggie’s art from her first show in Maine, and Jerry crafted a custom frame for it to proudly display in their den. Recently, they were just beginning to learn about hockey from Sam and Max. Being grandparents was one of their greatest joys.

Kit and Jerry are survived by their daughters and their families: Amy and Jared Lawson, with children James and Maggie; and Katy Boucher and wife Lyn Vanderhoven, along with Rob Shamitz and children Tyler and Jennie, and bonus grandchildren Sam and Max. They also leave their siblings, Cheryl and Bill Lamb, Paul and Johanna Boucher, Roger and Elaine Boucher, Jill Sorgio, and Rich and Peggy Lamb; their beloved dog, Casey; and four generations of nieces, nephews, cousins, and chosen family.

Kit and Jerry were, simply, best friends. In the end they were together, just as they had been since they were teenagers.

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Service Information

● Visiting Hours: Friday, February 27, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM; Saturday, February 28, beginning at 9:00 AM at St. Joan of Arc Church, Orleans, MA.

● Memorial Mass: Saturday, February 28, at 11:00 AM at St. Joan of Arc Church, Orleans, MA.

● Reception: A reception will follow immediately in the Church Hall.

● Burial: Burial will be private in West Hartford at a later date.

Memorial Donations: The family invites those who are moved to contribute to Kit & Jerry’s Foundation for Good (www.kitandjerry.org). The foundation was established to ensure their hardworking hearts continue to do good in their community. The first mission will be purchasing beds for a local shelter—the final project Jerry was quietly planning.