Joe LaPrade '62- Some Memories

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Walt Miller '65

The March issue of Technology Review, the MIT alumni magazine, arrived today.  As usual, I looked to see if there was any news of my old bretheren from Theta Deuteron, and was deeply saddened to see that Joseph E. Laprade, class of ’62, had succumbed to esophageal cancer and entered Omega.  Brother Laprade spent his life teaching chemistry, first at Nasson College in Maine, then at Princeton and finally at The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. The Technology Review note pointed out that he was loved by his students, who all called him “Joe”.  Those of us who had the privilege of knowing him earlier at Theta Deuteron called him ‘The Buffalo’ or just “Buff”, even lowly pledges such as I. The Buffalo was known for his strength, both as an All-State lineman in High School and for anchoring Theta Delta Chi’s championship touch football team, and for his gentle wisdom as our pledge trainer.  MIT can be an intimidating place, but Buff helped to make Theta Deuteron our home.  Brother Laprade had a broad impact, and we mourn his passing.

Walter L. Miller MD
Theta Deuteron ‘65

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Bob Baird '65

Joe was my Big Brother and roommate freshman year, and a great guy. As an Arizona guy he understood how hard adjusting to Boston and MIT were for a small-town small-school transplanted Texan was. I stayed with him while visiting Vermont later on and he was always a genuinely nice guy. Very sad to hear of his passing a few years ago.

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Harry P. Baya '61

Joe earned points for the M.I.T. wrestling team because he was very difficult to pin. His bull like neck allowed him to bridge until the match was called.

One year we competed in intramural wrestling. Joe coached us. I was supposed to be in the heavy-weight class but whoever was below me did not make their weight (I made mine - dieting for a week) and I got pushed into the unlimited class. Joe's instruction was good. I won my first match and then got a bye. In the next round I wrestled a very large guy who not only won the tournament, I think he was the New England champ for M.I.T. the next year. I can still recall going onto the mat, seeing him and thinking "How did I get into this?". Joe had taught us how to get out of pins. I kept getting out and my big, unskilled, opponent would just throw me down again. Finally I got too tired to escape and lost.

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Bill Vachon '63"

After the morning initiation, I traded paddling on the butt with Joe LaPrade, Class of '62. I had trouble sitting down for a couple of days after that. Joe was such a great guy and is no longer with us. He'd go up the stairs upside down, feet first in an arched (bridging) position. He was a heavy-weight wrestler. I get pain just thinking of that now.

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