Kurt Girard “Boot” Boutin

Kurt G. Boutin, 58, of Nashua, passed away May 11, Mother’s Day, after being hit by a car while out for his daily walk.

Born in Lowell, MA., to the late Girard and Bonnie Boutin, Kurt grew up in Litchfield, and his family moved to Nashua in 1995. He was a witty, charming, hardworking pillar of the local barbershop singing community. With his booming bass voice, “Boot,” as his barbershop friends called him, had been singing since attending Trinity High School in Manchester. In 1984, he made the New Hampshire All State Choir and then joined the Manchester men’s barbershop harmony chorus, the Queen City Harmonizers. When the Manchester chorus disbanded, Kurt joined the Nashua Granite Statesmen, (NGS), where he served in numerous leadership positions including President and Assistant Musical Director. In April, he directed in a competitive setting for the first time.

Kurt hit the big time with his most accomplished quartet, On Air, formed in 2008. They went on to win the Barbershop Harmony Society Northeastern District Quartet Championship in 2012 and sang on the International Competitive Stage in Toronto, Canada, the following year.

Kurt participated in the Barbershop Harmony Society Judging program and sang in many performing groups both in barbershop and other musical styles.

A longtime friend observes that Kurt started out as a “quiet and reserved teen.” Over the years, he “grew into the larger-than-life personality that we all knew and loved.”

In addition to singing, Kurt had an integral leadership role at Acapella Technologies LLC, where he had worked since the inception of the company. The company’s founder describes him as having a “quick wit, intelligence, loyalty, openness and warmth.”

He was a pop culture enthusiast, who produced a podcast on Marvel movies. He served as a presenter in DragonCon for three years running. He did Voice Over work and in 2022 began a vlog detailing his journey to good health with gradual significant weight loss. He developed a passion for BBQ, and had become renowned for his skill with a smoker.

Kurt is survived by his wife of 38 years, Brenda Fortier Boutin, of Nashua; one son, Jonathan Boutin of Nashua; and a daughter, Amanda Russell of Greenville; two grandchildren, John Herbert Russell III and Serenity Rose Russell; a brother, Kris Boutin and his wife Tracey of Mont Vernon; a sister, Kimberly Chandonnet and her husband Phil of Wentworth; a sister-in-law, Angela Fortier of Concord; his mother-in-law, Janet Aucoin and her husband Robert of Henniker; his father-in-law, Donald Fortier and his wife Mary of Norh Carolina; plus several nieces, nephews and cousins.

There will be no wake or funeral. A Celebration of Life is planned for later this summer. In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe campaign will be started to fund Brenda’s ongoing care. Please contact Matt Mercier at matt@acapella.com to donate.