SPRINGFIELD - Albert V. Boulerice, Springfield Technical High School all-star athlete, standout scholar, class president and lifelong Springfield area resident, died April 14 after a short period of illness. As was the way of his life, Albert did not complain about or draw any attention to his deteriorating condition during his last days, choosing instead to throw himself wholeheartedly into his favorite pastime, showing off pictures of his grandchildren. Albert was born in Springfield in 1942 to Albert G. Boulerice and Regina Boulerice, and was their only child and always the apple of their collective eye. In his youth, Albert, or Albie as his many, many friends called him, was truly a renaissance type, multi-talented individual. He quickly excelled at anything he put his formidable mind to, whether it was athletics, academics, school politics - or simply charming anyone within ear-shot with his unparalleled charisma and legendary sense of humor. Albie received a degree in mathematics from the University of Massachusetts and was married twice, first in the mid-sixties to his high school sweetheart and U-Mass classmate, Rory Broderick, and later in the late seventies through late eighties to the second love of his life, Catherine Carlo. In 1996 Albie suffered a stroke while taking care of his father, which left him without the use of the left side of his body and limited his mobility to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. However, he chose not to feel sorry for himself or allow this to change his unique lifestyle, and simply adapted to his physical limitations and (with the help of his legions of friends and his loyal cousin, John) continued to live life in his own way and on his own terms for the rest of his days. Albie was a kind, complicated and selfless man who would do anything for a friend and would often strike up conversations with sullen looking strangers just to see if he could put a smile on their face, which he always could. He lived life for the moment, and was very easily and very often completely satisfied and content with few material things around him. He would rub his hands together as he spoke like he was charging up his good time magic, then his eyes would sparkle and he'd start talking and get you feeling like your hot dog was a T-bone, your beer was a finely crafted merlot, and that you really were going to win a million on the next race - all by the sheer force of his will. He could spread that feeling through a room like lightning, and the world will surely be short many spontaneous smiles with the event of his passing. Albie enjoyed his life, and never lost his unbridled enthusiasm for just being with his friends and sharing a good meal, plentiful drink, the night's ball game and his favorite stories, but more than anything in this world, he loved his children and grandchildren, and was in his glory anytime he was with them. Albie is survived by his six children and his six grandchildren. They will all always remember him as a bigger than life, perpetually grinning force of nature who was never shy about expressing his limitless love for, and pride in, them all. Albie requested that upon his death his body be cremated, that his friends and family gather to remember him, and in his own words, "have a big party" - and we did just that. Friends and family celebrated Albert Boulerice's extraordinary life at his informal memorial service which was held at the P.N.A. hall, 144 Cabot St., in Chicopee on May 1.