J. Roger Pichette

Who was J. Roger Pichette?

Joseph Roger Eugene Pichette was a Canadian politician. Born in Chandler, Quebec, he attended school in Campbellton, New Brunswick where he lived for most of his life. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He rose to the level of Flight Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In 1943 Roger Pichette married Florence Olscamp of Ste-Anne de Restigouche, Quebec. The couple had a son and three daughters.

Pichette was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as the Progressive Conservative Party member for the Restigouche riding in the 1952 Provincial election. New premier Hugh John Flemming appointed him Minister of Industry and Development on October 8, 1952. Reelected in 1956, Pichette remained Minister until July 12, 1960 when his party was defeated in the New Brunswick general election, 1960.

In the 1979 Canadian federal election, Pichette was the unsuccessful Progressive Conservative Party of Canada's candidate in the federal riding of Restigouche.

Roger Pichette died in Moncton, New Brunswick in 2002 at age eighty-one. His wife died less than two months later. They are buried in Campbellton, New Brunswick.