John Broad Trethaway

New London, N.H. — John Broad Trethaway died on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at age 91. He was born in 1925 in Wilkes Barre, Pa. to Charles Broad Trethaway and Alma (Moon) Trethaway. Following service in the Navy Air Force as a pilot, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1947 and subsequently attended Harvard Business School. He started his business career with F.W. Woolworth Company as a store manager. In 1955 he joined Westvaco Corporation, retiring in 1973 as a senior marketing executive to care for his wife Joy Delano Stubbs Trethaway, who suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. In 1975 they moved to Peru, Vt. From 1975 until 1983 he was owner and manager of Manchester Hardware Company in Manchester, Vt. His wife Joy passed away in 1985. For the next 30 years he was an activist for Alzheimer’s Disease, serving as support group founder, leader, and organizer, President of the Vermont chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and Vice Chairman of the National Alzheimer’s Association.

While at Dartmouth he fell in love with skiing and started what was to be a lifelong career of teaching others to enjoy the sport. He remained a certified Professional Ski Instructor until 83 years of age and for many years directed the Senior Cruiser Club at Mt. Sunapee, NH.

Throughout his life he remained committed to community service. When living in Pound Ridge, N.Y., he served as President of the Pound Ridge Association; President of the Pound Ridge Volunteer Fire Department; founding Director of the Pound Ridge Tennis Club; member of the Westchester (N.Y.) County Republican Committee. In New York City he enjoyed membership in the Canadian and Metropolitan Clubs. In Vermont he served in a number of local positons including Town Moderator. He was a Trustee of Friends of Hildene, retiring in 1984 as Vice Chairman; a Trustee of Ethan Allen Community College; President of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, the Bromley Mountain Outing Club, and Vice President of the Manchester Development Committee. He was Chairman of the Vermont Advisory Board of the Department of Aging and oversaw the merger of that department and the Department of Disabilities. He thoroughly enjoyed serving as an Administrative Law Judge in Montpelier, Vt. as well as subsequent work as Commissioner of Development for the State of Vermont. In 1985 he was named “Vermont Man of the Year” by the Vermont Retail Association.

In Grantham, N.H. he was a volunteer visitor for the Grafton County Probate Court, Trustee and Treasurer of the Dunbar Free Library and President of the Country Squires of New London. An active bicyclist, he enjoyed biking with his wife and trips with the “Kearsarge-Sunapee Chain Gang.” In summer, in addition to biking, he enjoyed early morning swimming and kayaking and afternoon sailing at their Lake Sunapee cottage.

A dedicated son of Dartmouth, he served as a Class Agent, Reunion Chair, Newsletter Editor, and Class President. He served the College as Founder and President of the Dartmouth Club of Southwestern Vermont, Trustee of the Dartmouth Council of Alumni and a member of the board of “Dartmouth Partners in Community Service.”

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Helen P. Bridge, of New London; his son, Thomas Broad Trethaway; his daughter, Joy Delano Trethaway Barry; his stepchildren, Deborah Baker, David Bridge, Adam Bridge, Thomas Bridge, Douglas Bridge; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers donations in John’s memory may be made to Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse and Hospice Association, P.O. Box 2209, New London, NH 03257.

A memorial service is planned for the Ritz Bar in Paris, and a celebration of John’s life will be offered at a later date in the Lake Sunapee area.