Albert P. Valliere OBITUARY

Albert P. Valliere, Jr., 74, of North Smithfield, died October 18, 2020 at Hope Health Hulitar Hospice Center, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Paula (Smith) Valliere. Born in Woonsocket, he was the son of the late Albert and Celia (Petrin) Valliere.

Albert was the President and CEO of Nationwide Construction and was regularly recognized for his outstanding leadership, his considerable contributions to his community and his commitment to Do well by doing good.

As Al's business grew, he became particularly invested in supporting and building quality housing that could be affordable to everyday Rhode Islanders. He gave generously of his time, knowledge and expertise as a strong advocate, sharing his insights with state and local policy makers to better understand the challenges to developing affordable housing.

You can hear Al talk about his work here: Albert Valliere | 2017 Smart Growth Awards You'll notice that his voice breaks with emotion at the 1:52 mark when he says, Its about giving back, its about creating opportunity, that makes me happy. This is a quintessential Al moment, brimming with pride, conviction, passion and unexpected emotion. It is worth a listen just to hear his voice, which was distinct and gravelly and turned heads at a party, Who is that?

Albert was a rockstar triathlete and in 2001 he rode his bike 200 miles on Route 100, from the Canadian border to the MA border. He regularly participated in the Ride the Rockies in Colorado and RAGBRAI, an annual cycling tour across Iowa. He was a beast of a biker but swimming was actually his best event. His friend Joe Maguire called him A fierce yet gracious competitor who would often complete the one-mile swim as quickly as guys in their 20s, much to their chagrin. 

When friends asked Al how he was doing he always answered, Best shape of my life! - and it was always true. Al got so much joy and satisfaction and reward from his life as a triathlete. He was such a wide open person, curious and excited and interested - and on his cycling trips he regularly introduced himself to strangers and made loud and ridiculous jokes for the benefit of anyone within earshot, often laughing at his own joke before he was finished with it. 

He would laugh until he cried and his laughing alone would make people laugh. He would often dress as Santa Claus at Christmas time, riding his bike around neighborhoods in Rhode Island and waving at whoever happened to be out. His favorite post-ride treat was a cone (or two or three) of soft serve ice cream which he referred to as a twirly whirly. On his birthday four years ago he called his daughter Vanessa after a bike ride, twirly whirly in hand saying, I thought I would do 70 miles for my 70th birthday but I did 85 instead.

Al was sometimes called Big Al - ironic because of his small stature and appropriate because of his giant personality. He was full of contradictions like this. He was a star athlete and took great care of himself but could sit down in front of the TV and eat an entire box of cereal with his hands (if his wife Paula didn't come over and gently tug the box from his grip.) He was a master estimator and organizer and contractor, but don't you dare ask him to fix or build anything or put together a Christmas present that comes with instructions. His guys at Nationwide would laughingly say, He's great in the office but keep him off the building sites! He makes us crazy!

Al liked peace and calm and quiet in the sun on the beach, but he also loved to run into the water, surrounded by kids, screaming budda budda! at the big waves. He loved watching movies and would always comment, What a beautiful piece that was. What a great piece. But when asked about the film the next day, he wouldn't remember a single moment from it. He was articulate and considerate, but also loved to swear. He swore when he was angry, he swore when he was happy and he loved to throw in the occasional swear to set you at ease and to essentially say: It's okay. We can swear. We can be easy with each other. We can be regular people. You don't have to check yourself with me. Be who you are, please. 

He was an alcoholic who got sober. A person who yelled and apologized. A beautiful and constant work in progress. He was flawed. Like you and me. He'd be the first to tell you that.

Al was beyond devoted to the family he was born into: his sisters Cecelia and Pauline and his brother Paul. He was nurse to his mother when she became ill and passed away at their family home in North Smithfield. Later in his life he had the opportunity to be a kind of father to his young nephew, Victor Valliere, who grew up to be a source of love, strength and pride. He was also immensely proud of his two daughters, Nicole and Vanessa and bragged about them regularly. He spent a long car ride teaching them how to properly shake peoples hands. He embarrassed them by dancing or making monkey sounds in aisles immediately after the credits were over at a movie theater. He cried in front of them when he was sad and when he was moved and when he was laughing so hard he couldn't stop. They waited for him at tables in restaurants while he went to say hello to everyone he knew (which was everyone). 

Whenever Nicole and Vanessa left the house he would always say, Be careful, huh? He worried about them. He loved them and they loved him. He surprised them at his 40th birthday party at Chan's, where he held court, telling jokes to all assembled for over an hour. That party was thrown by his wife Paula, with whom he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary in September of this year. 

In a family video that was made for Paula's 70th birthday Al said, Best thing I ever did was to fall in love with you, I'm so lucky to have had you by my side all of these years. Its been a decent run. His love for his daughter Nicole's kids, Sydney and Jackson, was so big and so complete, it was almost surprising. His capacity for loving them was overwhelming. In 2018 he finished an email to his daughter Vanessa with the words, Why not enjoy the ride. We only come this way one time. Let's make the best of it!! He made the best of it and wanted others to do the same.

We will all hear stories of him for years to come. He lived big. He loved fiercely and was fiercely loved.

Along with his wife, Paula, Al is survived by two daughters, Nicole and Vanessa Valliere; his nephew, Victor Valliere; his brother, Paul Valliere; two sisters, Pauline Valliere and Cecelia Florentz; as well as Jackson and Sydney Valliere, the two grandchildren that brought him astounding joy.

Visitation will be held, Saturday, October 24, 2020 from 1 - 4pm in the Holt Funeral Home, 510 South Main St., Woonsocket. All other services will be private. Social distancing guidelines will be implemented upon your arrival. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Recycle-A-Bike.

Visitation
Sat, Oct 24, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Holt Funeral Home

510 S Main St
Woonsocket, RI 02895

Holt Funeral Home

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