LEBANON, NH — It is with much sorrow that we announce the passing of Victor Surprenant of Hanover, New Hampshire, and most recently of Harvest Hill, Lebanon, NH on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
Victor was born in Norwich, Connecticut on April 14, 1932, to Mary Rose Brogno Taylor. He spent his early years in Norwich, attending St. Mary’s Grammar School and Norwich Free Academy. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served four years during the Korean War including one year at the then-secret Air Force Base in Thule, Greenland where his plane was the second one to arrive with American servicemen. Staff Sergeant Surprenant was incredibly proud to serve his country.
Victor enrolled at the University of Connecticut after discharge from the Air Force. He graduated in 1961 with a degree in Geology. This led to employment at the United Aircraft Research Labs in West Hartford, Connecticut. It was where he met George Colligan who urged Vic to join him at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. They worked together in the field of metallurgy and their families became very good friends. After 35 years of biomedical engineering teaching and research at Thayer School, Vic retired in 1997 with emeritus status. He left a lasting impression on both his colleagues and students.
While at the University of Connecticut, through his cousin Sandra Turano Harrod, he met Helene Stronski whom he married on October 15, 1960, as soon as the fishing season ended. They were married for 59 years. They lived in Norwich for a year and a half where two of their four children were born. Two more children were born after their move to Hanover, New Hampshire in 1962 where they made their home until the summer of 2020 when they moved to Harvest Hill in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Vic loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, camping at Hermit Island on the coast of Maine and driving across the country and camping at Yellowstone National Park. Playing cards, board games, croquet, doing projects around the house, boating, and fishing were among his favorite activities. His famous boating saying was, “if Grandpa goes overboard, save his wallet!” During the winter months, he could be found playing pond hockey with his family and life-long friends John and Nancy Collier. He inspired and shared his love of his favorite pastimes with his family and friends. Vic especially loved his five grandchildren and spent countless hours at their musical performances, sporting events, birthday parties, and graduation celebrations.
Vic was very proud of being a Eucharistic minister and greeter in the later years of his life at St. Denis Parish in Hanover, NH. His service to the church was very important to him.
He is survived by his wife, Helene; daughters, Christine Surprenant of Cornish, NH, Cynthia Bill and her husband, Andy, and their sons, Gordon and Victor, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and Charlene Batista and her husband, Steve, and their daughter, Annika, of Scarborough, Maine; and son, Tim, and his wife, Kirsten, and their sons, Cameron and Samuel, of Orford, NH.
Other beloved family members he is survived by include his brother, Thomas, and his wife, Carol Surprenant, and their sons, Scott, Mark, Bruce, Gary, and their wives and families of Norwich, Connecticut; and his brother-in-law, Jim Stronski, and his wife, Suzi, of San Diego, California.
There will be calling hours on Thursday, October 8th from 4-7pm at Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School Street, Lebanon, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 9th at 11:00am at St. Denis Catholic Church, 8 Sanborn Street, Hanover, NH followed by burial at Pine Knoll Cemetery in Hanover, NH. Live-streaming of the service will be available at http://www.saintdenisparish.org/about/live-streaming.html. Family and friends planning on attending services are reminded to wear face masks and observe social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Vic’s memory to Rivendell Abroad (Rivendell Abroad, Rivendell Academy, 2972 Route 25A, Orford, NH 03777), Rivendell Academy’s program that supports student global education and international travel, would be appreciated.
An online guestbook is available to leave a message of condolence for Vic’s family by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.