At ceremonies June 13 during Saint Michael's College Reunion 2009 festivities, the SMC Alumni Association named Joseph Boutin Alumnus of the Year. A leader in the banking industry in Vermont and nationally, Mr. Boutin, a 1969 graduate of Saint Michael’s, celebrated the 40th anniversary of his graduation at the reunion.
“We are pleased to honor a man who is the walking definition of commitment to community, church, family and college,” said Patrick Gallivan, SMC vice president for institutional advancement.
Joseph Boutin led The Howard Bank, Merchants Bancshares and Merchants Bank as president, before retiring. He also appeared frequently as an industry spokesperson on the NBC Nightly News and Good Morning America.
Boutin was cited for service in literally scores of boards including those of Fletcher Allen Healthcare, The Rutland Regional Medical Center, The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way of Rutland and Chittenden counties. He chaired the board of Vermont Public Radio and the board of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. He also served eight years on the Saint Michael's College board of trustees.
A number of Joe Boutin’s family members, siblings and children, graduated from Saint Michael’s, and his father Bernard Boutin, a member of the SMC class of 1945, served as president of the college. Joe Boutin and his wife Dale are residents of Burlington. They have four children and six grandchildren.