InDepthNH.org scans the websites of New Hampshire funeral homes each week and selects at random some of our friends, relatives and neighbors to feature in this column. The people listed here passed away during the previous weeks and have some public or charitable connection to their community. InDepthNH.org is now offering obituaries through the Legacy.com service. We view this as part of our public service mission. Click here or on the Obituaries tab at the top of our home page to learn more. And if you know of someone from New Hampshire who should be featured in this column, please send your suggestions to NancyWestNews@gmail.com.
Norman “Spike” Allard Sr., 96, of Dover, died June 22, 2024. He was a Seabee in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a firefighter in Dover for more than 30 years and retired as deputy chief. He was a member of the American Legion in Rollinsford, and served as commander three times. He was a member of the VFW in South Berwick, Maine, former member of the Elks in Dover, and member of the Drum and Bugle Corps in Somersworth. (Tasker Funeral Home)
Edward T. Bonner, 60, of Brentwood, died June 21, 2024. He was chief operating officer at the Sleep Institute of New England in Kingston. He had been employed by Tufts University New England Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and Partners Healthcare System at Massachusetts General Hospital for more than 20 years as a video multimedia producer. (Stockbridge Funeral Home)
Scott MacDuffee Cunningham, 90, of Freedom, died June 19, 2024. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a member of the Freedom Historical Society and served as a selectman and a member of other town boards. He attended Harvard Business School for master’s and doctorate degrees in business. (Baker-Gagne Funeral Homes)
Cynthia A. (Berg) Gates, 92, of Newmarket, died June 24, 2024. Her passion was roller skating, earning the title of national champion. She was a world class coach and judge, teaching well into her 80s. (Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home & Crematory)
Robert Scott Grimm, 63, of Chester, died June 22, 2024. He had a 24-year career at WMUR-TV and was a member of the Chester School Board. He helped grow Chester Public Access Television. (Peabody Funeral Home)
Janet Lynn King, 71, of Canterbury, died June 18, 2024. She did many things during her lifetime, including rower, artist, teacher, caretaker, school bus driver, tutor, dump attendant, N.H. House committee assistant, dog lover, and much more. She was also a member of the Women’s Caucus for Art, and a show of her artwork will be displayed in the Canterbury Parish House/Community Center during September, culminating in a celebration of life Sept. 21, 2024, at 1 p.m. (Legacy.com)
Steven J. Kurek, 62, of Salem, died June 24, 2024. He was general manager/vice president for North America at the Friedr Dick Company. He served on the board of directors for the Greater Salem Boy’s & Girl’s Club, Central Catholic High School and The Lazarus House Ministries. (Carrier Family Funeral Home)
Jennifer Laura (Wheeler) Paquin, 37, of Hooksett, died June 20, 2024. She was a kindergarten teacher at Gossler Park Elementary School in Manchester for more than 10 years. She was a 2025 teacher of the year nominee. (Legacy.com)
Judith E. Roche, 75, of Pittsburg, died June 21, 2024. She was best known throughout her life as “Sweet Pea” and spent more than 25 years as a professional entertainer who sang while playing the guitar, piano, and bass pedal. She also led a full band for many years. She was a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 182 in Gorham. In Clarksville, she was secretary for the Town of Pittsburg for more than a decade and served 13 years as a Clarksville selectman and school board member. She was the emcee for the Pittsburg Old Home Day for 15 years. (Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home)
Stephen Robert Schmalz, 64, of Hollis, died June 21, 2024. He was an air traffic controller for 34 years in Nashua. He was recognized with the Archie Award from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, following a heroic act that saved a young pilot’s life. He served on the Hollis School Board, Elementary School Playground Committee, Booster Club, and Hollis Cal Ripken Baseball, among many others. (McGaffigan Funeral Home, Pepperell, Mass.)
Ann M. Skahan, 79, of Swanzey, died June 20, 2024. She ran a daycare out of her house, worked as a bookkeeper for Surell Accessories Inc. in Troy, and Aaron Pallet in Fitzwilliam and Fitchburg, Mass. She was member of the former Swanzey Lion’s Club and a Cub Scout den mother. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America for more than 50 years. (Foley Funeral Home)
Roger Tatro, 83, of West Lebanon, died June 21, 2024. He had a more-than-three-decade career with Metropolitan Life Insurance in Morrisville, Vt., and was vice president of A.D. Davis over commercial and residential accounts. He performed throughout the North Country as lead singer/guitarist in several country bands including The Ambrose and Coming on Country. (Knight Funeral Home of White River Junction, Vt.)
Bob L. Therrien, 72, of Lebanon, died June 24, 2024. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he was a police officer in both Hartford, Vt., and Lebanon until his retirement in 2002. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 22 in Lebanon. He volunteered for LHS Alumni Days, New Hampshire Police Cadet Academy, Annual Toys for Tots program, the haunted house at the Lebanon City Hall, and as the guardian of the Soldiers Memorial Building across from the green in Lebanon. (Ricker Funeral Home)
Ronald P. White, 88, former longtime resident of Amherst, and later Plymouth, Mass., died June 21, 2024. A veteran of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, he developed technology in underwater countermeasures, having several patents for the development of transducers and sonar buoys. He worked for Sanders Associates, Hazeltine Corp., Raytheon ASW Division and the Navy Underwater Sound Laboratory. (Smith & Heald Funeral Home)
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Life and death matters, yes. And the question of how to behave in this world, how to go in the face of everything. Time is short and the water is rising.” – Raymond Carver Jr., short story writer, May 25, 1938, to August 2, 1988