Abbott West Lahti

New London, N.H. — Abbott West Lahti, of New London, died peacefully of congestive heart failure on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, at Wheelock Terrace in Hanover, N.H. Abbott, son of Matthew and Dorothy Lahti, was born in 1930 in Cambridge, Mass. Abbott was a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, class of 1948 and Harvard University, 1952. Abbott served as LTJG in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956, where he taught aviation ordnance and atomic weapon delivery. He had two sons, Russell Matthew and Mark Abbott Lahti, with his first wife Barbara Ann (Harding) Lahti.

His interests included model trains and airplanes, motorcycle racing and music, taking up the violin in his 20’s. His career and life’s work reflected these interests. In the 1960’s, he was Director of Research for KLH, a prominent audio company. He held several patents in the fields of audiology and command control systems for the hobby industry. In the 1970’s, he founded Power System Inc, which later became Dynatrol – a company that produced command and control systems for model railroads for over 40 years. He was an early innovator in developing electric powered remote controlled model airplanes, and won the McEntee Memorial Award for innovations in the field. His participation in motor sports racing started at a young age and endured throughout his life. While in high school he built and raced a Speedboat to compete in the Alton Bay races on Lake Winnipesaukee. As a student at Harvard, he built and successfully raced a car, having a notable result at the Mount Ascutney Hill Climb. He had a great love of motorcycles and in particular motorcycle racing. In a few short years of racing he became a factory sponsored rider. In his fifties, he took up off-road riding and road the Colorado 500. In 2016 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the U.S. Classic Racing Association. A longtime oarsman and member of the Cambridge Boat Club, as stroke his team placed in the first Head of the Charles race. He was a co-founder of the Cambridge City Soccer Club.

In June of 1992, he married Thea (Comins) Lahti. They lived for many years in Cambridge, Mass. moving to New London in 2003, where Thea continues to reside.

He is survived by his wife; his sons, Mark and Russell Lahti; his stepdaughters, Alison and Kristin Froling; and his five grandchildren: Jacob and Nicholas Dores-Lahti, Lillian Lahti, and Hazel and Ben Froling.

Memorial contributions may be made to the N.H. Alzheimers Association, 166 South River Road Suite 210, Bedford, NH 03110. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a future date.

To sign an online guestbook please visit www.chadwickfuneralservice.com.