Leon S. Kenison

Bow – Leon S. Kenison, 70, passed away on February 12, 2012, with his family by his side at the Hospice House in Concord after a courageous battle with cancer. Leon was born in Littleton on December 29, 1941, eldest son of Coleman and Hilda (Smith) Kenison.

He attended Lancaster Academy, and graduated from UNH with a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration. Leon began working for the NH Department of Public Works (now NHDOT) upon graduating from UNH in 1962 and retired after 37 years of service. He started as a Construction Project Engineer and was promoted to Assistant Highway Maintenance Engineer, and then to Director of Project Development, overseeing highway and bridge design, construction of municipal highways, right of ways, environment materials and research activities. Leon was nominated and confirmed as Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer and then as Commissioner. Not knowing the word retirement, he went on to join a private consulting firm in evaluating public works facilities. He served an assignment as Interim Lebanon City Manager, Interim Lebanon Airport Manager, moving to Director of Facilities of the Pease Development Authority in Portsmouth, then on to Town Administrator for the towns of Pittsfield and Hopkinton, and most recently with the City of Nashua as Public Works Director and transitioning last summer to the position of Broad Street Parkway Coordinator responsible for the oversight of the new parkway.

Influenced by an ethic of community service modeled by his parents, Leon chose to serve his community in multiple capacities. He was active in youth athletics, supporting his children in school sports and later in coaching and officiating baseball and basketball for all ages. As a Concord resident for twenty-six years, Leon participated on several City boards and commissions. He also served as president of the NH Safety and Health Council, Trustee of the Capital Region Food Program, past president of the local chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers, and as Executive Board member of the NH Local Government Center. Leon moved to Bow in 1989 and served as a Selectman from 2001-2009, including as chair for three years and was a member of many boards and commissions for the Town of Bow. Leon served as Representative in the NH House from 2003-2004, where he enjoyed contributing and interacting with many friends he knew from years of State and community service. He also has enjoyed being a member or Rotary for over 25 years both in Concord and Bow.

Survivors include his wife Gale of Bow, his five children, daughter Kelly Kenison Falkner and her husband Jimmy of Arlington VA, daughter Kristine Kenison and her husband Ernie of Tuftonboro, daughter Karlee Kenison and her husband Loren Butman of Concord, son Leon Kenison, Jr. of Manchester and son Michael Kenison and his wife Dawn of Newmarket, and stepdaughter Alicia Cutting and her husband Nicolas. His six grandchildren are Nate and Leah Kenison-Marvin, Perrin and Elliot Falkner and Taylor and Zachary Kenison. Leon’s siblings include Doris Ann Sweet and her husband Doug, Albert Kenison and his partner Marilyn Emmons, Coleman Kenison and his wife Mary Lou, Tom Kenison and his partner Laurie Mullett, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents Coleman and Hilda Kenison. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, February 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main Street, Concord. Celebration of his life will be held at the Bow Community Center, 1 Bow Center Road, Bow on Friday February 17 at 1:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Bow Rotary Club Foundation, PO Box 35, Bow, NH 03304, where a scholarship in Leon’s named will be

established to assist deserving students who are pursuing a civil engineering degree at a college or university.

Arrangements under the direction of Bennett Funeral Home, Concord, NH.