Don Bouchard, Audio Industry Veteran, Dies At 58

By TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 2/11/2008

Houston — Don Bouchard, 58, sales and VP for Ultralink/XLO Products, died on Thursday, Feb. 7, here, due to severe injuries involving a motorcycle accident.

Bouchard was a 35-year veteran of the consumer electronics and A/V specialty industry. He also served in top sales and marketing positions with brands such as Ohm Acoustics, Dahlquist, Acoustic Research, Red Rose Music and Cello with Mark Levinson. Educated with a degree in psychology from Texas A&M University, Bouchard was also a motivational speaker, spokesman and educator with clients that have included IBM, Tandy, HP, Maritz and Merrill Lynch.

Bouchard was also a member of the Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA) audio board. Gary Shapiro, president/CEO, released the following statement on Bouchard’s passing, “Don was a long-time leader in the specialty audio/video segment of the consumer electronics community. He joined CEA’s audio board in 2007 because he said he wanted to give back to the industry that he felt had given so much to him. Indeed, he gave a great deal of his time and talents, and made the industry better as a result. CEA benefited immeasurably from his experience and communication skills. We’ll miss his leadership and his friendship.”

In the same CEA statement Jeffrey Hipps, senior VP of Sherwood America, and immediate past chair of CEA’s audio division board, added, “Wherever my friend Don Bouchard worked, his business card carried this title: Audio Evangelist. It was a fitting description. The zeal he demonstrated in his pursuit of audio excellence represented our best. With his big heart, warm manner and huge personality, Don engaged life head-on. His loss leaves a permanent hole in my heart.”

Bouchard is survived by his two children, Don III and Rebecca; his mother, Doris; his brothers, Jeff and Mike; along with his sister-in-laws Pam, Kathy and Lisa.

His family will hold a service during the first weekend of March at Bryant's Ice House in Katy, Texas, and they request that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to the Elf Foundation.