Dr. Jean-Paul Aucoin

Born on Ground Hog’s Day 1933 to Nazaire and Rosilda Aucoin in Chicopee, MA. He was ever proud of his French Canadian heritage, being educated at the Assumption Catholic Church School speaking French, Assumption Prep, Assumption University. He often happily visited the 700 acre Aucoin family farm in Ste. Victoire de Sorel-Tracy, Quebec especially in the Fall and Maple Syrup harvesting time in March.

Jean-Paul was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, receiving his M.D. degree in 1959. He married his first wife, Ruth Bouyea, while in medical school and together they moved to East Springfield to set up his first practice in addition to joining on with Mercy Hospital. While in western MA, Jean-Paul and Ruth were blessed with three children, J.P. Jr., Joe, and Michelle. While he worked passionately, he could be found with his family at Black Point, CT for summertime weekends. In 1978 they moved to Chatham, Cape Cod where he set up practice in North Chatham. During his time as a doctor he was always known for making house calls even in the middle of the night, delivering babies, and providing expert diagnoses. He was committed to his community, becoming Medical Director at Liberty Commons Nursing Home in addition to serving young families, seniors, tourists, and was even asked to be “doctor-on-call” to Chatham Bars Inn during the ‘90’s. Dr. Aucoin dedicated his life to helping others, even gladly accepting lobsters and clams from fishermen as payment for his medical services. He begrudgingly retired from medicine in 2001, opening up even more time for him to spend with his family.

While he lost his beloved Ruthie to cancer, he was lucky enough to meet Joan Tacke, a schoolteacher from New York, who had hurt her foot and needed his care, which evolved into a friendship and then a relationship. He charmingly proposed marriage in front of her senior high school class. They were married at the Holy Redeemer Church in June 1990 and continued to build their life in Chatham. Together in 1996 they traveled to Wuhan, China to adopt their daughter Aimee-Rose, then five years old.

Jean-Paul was blessed to have family and friends surrounding him for all of his life. He took pleasure in attending the Fourth of July parades with his grandchildren and taking everyone out to Chatham A’s baseball games. He had a travel bug, which he instilled in his family, taking the family on trips as often as all could get together. While at home he took great pleasure in attending the opening nights at Monomoy Theater. He was an expert proof-reader, assisting Joan with her Cape Cod Chronicle theater reviews and joining her during COVID years zooming into the Eldredge Public Library memoir class. He avidly attended the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Minister, sometimes every day of the week, and could always be found after church with his family at Sandi’s Diner enjoying breakfast and playing games. He attended the Chatham High School graduations during the years Joan was their culinary arts teacher, cheering her and her students on. He spent the most recent years celebrating the milestones of his children and grandchildren and spending as much time with his family as he possibly could - he was his family’s biggest supporter.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Tacke Aucoin; children Joseph Aucoin and wife Michelle of Brewster, MA, Michelle Scott of North Chatham, MA, and Aimee-Rose Taaffe of Jupiter, FL; grandchildren Jean-Paul (JP) Aucoin III and Justin Panico of Monson, MA, Emily Aucoin of Greenville, SC, Tom Scott of North Chatham, MA, Sean Scott and wife Janey of Milford, CT, and Brody Taaffe and Aria-Rose Taaffe both of Jupiter, FL; cousins Sister Kathleen Aucoin, Regina Heisler and husband John, Camille Aucoin, Gertrude Beaudreault, and Sr. Reine Salvas; nieces and nephews Lisa Mitchell, Diane Boudreau, Jane Moore, Marjorie Wojcik, Pauline Supka, Philip Aucoin, and David Aucoin; and close family David Scott, Michelle Varney, Josephine and Stephanie Aucoin.

He was predeceased by his first wife Ruth Bouyea, son Jean Paul Joseph Jr., brother Ray Aucoin and wife Rita, brother Rosaire Aucoin, sister Doris Aucoin, brother-in-law Charlie Tacke, and nephew Norman Aucoin.

Father John Sullivan will give a funeral Mass in celebration of his life on Saturday, December 18 at 11 am at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. There will be a visitation preceding Mass at the Nickerson Funeral Home on Crowell Road, Chatham, 9:30 am. The burial will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to Broad Reach Hospice, 390 Orleans Road, N. Chatham 02650. With gratitude to Nurses Riley, Ariel, Pastor Tiffany, Social Worker Kalo; Karen Warren and caregivers from Quality Home Care, Cape Cod, LLC.; and Alzheimer’s Family Support, Brewster.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com